Abstract

Nowadays, text messaging between student and lecturer in academic environment is getting more and more common. This study analyzes the politeness strategies found in students’ text messages to their lecturers at English Study Program Faculty of Cultural Studies Universitas Brawijaya Malang, Indonesia. This research used qualitative approach to analyze students’ text messages. The politeness strategies were analyzed according to Brown and Levinson’s Politeness Theory [1]. The findings show that students used a variety of politeness strategies, including positive and negative politeness strategies. No students used the off-record strategy. The strategies used in texting junior or senior lecturers are not very much different. In terms of positive politeness, negative politeness, and bald on record strategy, the strategies applied to senior and junior lecturers are similar, indicating that seniority does not give any significance regarding students’ text messages. From the results of interview, it can be concluded that students’ writing and the choice of words should be taken into account as it may affect the lecturers’ feeling in an unfavourable way.

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