Language Politeness in Discussion Activities of Class VIII Students at SMP Negeri 7 Ambon

Abstract

Politeness in language is a crucial factor in influencing pupils' linguistic development and character
formation. Consequently, it is imperative to consider the dimension of politeness in pupils' linguistic
expressions. This study seeks to delineate the deviations and adherence to the standards of linguistic
politeness observed in class discussions among Class VIII students at SMP Negeri 7 Ambon. This study
involved 33 kids from the eighth grade. The employed data collection methods included observation,
interviews, recording, field notes, and documentation. The research findings indicate two categories of
linguistic politeness: compliance with politeness rules and discourse, encompassing four debates with a
total of 17 utterances, wherein all forms of maxims were identified. The second category encompasses
transgressions from the standards of linguistic courtesy in discourse, categorized into three maxims and
three utterances. The research findings indicate that the maxim most commonly violated is that of
wisdom and appreciation, observed in breaches of the courtesy principle during discussions among
Class VIII students at SMP Negeri 7 Ambon.