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| CMC - Rika Diana (Question 3) |
| Mar 25, 2009 |
Question 3
Asynchronous CMC : Blog
Web URL : http://www.othermalaysia.org/2009/02/17/elizabeth-wong-and-our-hope-for-a-new-politics-in-malaysia/
Topic : Elizabeth Wong and Our Hope for a New Politics in Malaysia
Discourse Analysis : LANGUAGE POLITENESS
The sample data of CMC is taken from a blog by a well-known Political Historian in this region; Dr. Farish Noor. The blog entry entitled, “Elizabeth Wong and Our Hope for a New Politics in Malaysia.” Basically, the blog entry is a disappointment of Dr. Farish Noor regarding Miss Elizabeth Wong’s case that being a publicly renowned here in Malaysia in mid February. He claimed that Miss Wong could be one of the politicians that can bring new ideology to the neo-feudal communitarian style of Malaysia politics. There are 14 correspondents towards this entry which are mostly supporting and share their disappointment with Dr. Farish Noor on the resignation of Miss Wong and violation on her.
The blog entry is responded by equally representation of male and female correspondent. This is assumed as it to be due to the reason some of the correspondents use a general pseudonym in which identifying their gender is quite confusing. Hence, the analysis on this blog will be evaluated by the language used by each of the correspondents based on discourses analysis; language politeness.
Language politeness means the ways in which speakers adapt (or decide not to adapt) to the fact that their interlocutors, actual or imagined, have human needs, like their own. Due to this politeness reason, people tend to use a very diplomatic way to express their feelings and thought publicly whether it is in the form of face-to-face communication or online communication. They prefer to convey their messages indirectly by implying the messages conventionally. Robin Lakoff is the one who came out with this language politeness lined out three important elements that are formality which means keep a distance between speaker and audience. Next, hesitancy in which allowing the audience to have their own way in giving back responses. Finally, the third
element is equality by promoting the idea of solidarity among the speaker and the audience as well as making the audience feels comfortable.
Consequently, the comments are going to be analyzed based on three elements of language politeness. Firstly, the analysis will be looked at the formality degree used by the correspondents in commenting the blog entry. Most of the correspondents were using informal language in which they did use inappropriate words like, ‘bastard’ and ‘rotten politic’. This is to show that they are ignoring the fact that they are publicly observed by the people who visit that kind of entry. They just believe that they should express their feeling explicitly though through the use of inappropriate words like been mentioned before. Meanwhile, there are correspondents that used euphemism as a replacement of the inappropriate which make it more pleasant to be read by the mass audience. For instance, “Our verdict: Elizabeth Wong should take the challenge and come back a wiser leader. Malaysia needs true leaders” One of the benefits using informal language in this context, it shows that the correspondent is sincerely with their statement and believe that it is the best way to show their disagreement towards the atrocities that implicated on Miss Wong.
Secondly, the analysis will be looked into the degree of hesitance used by the correspondents in commenting the blog entry. Apparently, the issue has succeeded in bringing out the best in them; the commentators. They are not afraid of being judged by other people for they have expressed their thoughts in their own way. The interlocutor does not give out any guideline for the correspondents to respond to the issue. The degree of hesitancy here is totally high as the correspondents are freely given options in responding to the issue. Plus, they are also responses by the correspondent towards the other correspondent which make it a kind of an argumentative discussion. They interpret and re-interpret the comments given in their own way that shows they read all the comments first before contributing to the forum. It is to say they have given enough thought before writing on the blog entry. For example, “My fellow Citixien, your inconsistent arguments offends my sense of logic. On one hand you decided to contribute silently, on the other, you are commenting on a blog” and “Citexen, nobody would call you an idiot if you keep your stupid ideas to yourself. By the way what sort of silent worker are you?”
Thirdly, the analysis will be looked at the degree of equality that existed in the comments from the correspondents. Obviously, there is no such thing of inequality among them. They are free to voice out their say and feelings. They do not mention anything about status or title. They are just there to comment on that particular issue which make the comments are reliable. Furthermore, the blogger does not intervene or scrutinizing on the comments like the comment does not have a strong ground or the comment is not relevant with the issue. This makes the correspondents feel that they are invited to express their say. They have given the freedom of speech so that they will not feel intimidated or unqualified to have a say. This is one of the platform for a layman to convey their thoughts and feeling without fearing that their identity will be exposed for they can use any pseudonym that they like in commenting in the blog. Equality does make people to feel more secure and guaranteed. In conclusion, language politeness does not necessarily needed in communication if by using the informal language can help the people to express their thoughts and feeling even better.
Question 1
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posted by PiNk ButTeRfLy @ 9:16 PM  |
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