CHAPTER II: DATA ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS II.1 Information of American Idol and Vietnam Idol
II.2. REALISATION OF POLITENESS STRATEGIES IN GIVING COMMENTS ON CONTESTANTS’ PERFORMANCE BY JUDGES IN AMERICAN IDOL AND
VIETNAM IDOL
II.2.1 Giving comments with both positive and negative politeness strategies
In terms of positive politeness, giving comments is a communicative act (including verbal and non-verbal, nonverbal aspects of this act are not in the scope of the study) which is appropriately intended to show the speaker’s concern to the hearer, thus enhancing the sense of solidarity between them. The concern can be expressed in the way closeness is built and emotions are share among speakers and hearers.
As a matter of fact, communicating partners may use some positive politeness strategies such as: give interest, sympathy to hearer (strategy 2), use in-group identity markers (strategy 4), joke (strategy 8), assert concern for hearer’s wants (strategy 9), be optimistic (strategy 11), give and ask for reasons (strategy 13), understanding to hearer (strategy 15), comfort and encourage (strategy 16).
In regard of negative politeness, giving comments is also a communicative act which is appropriately intended to show that the speaker does not impinge on the hearer’s privacy, thus enhancing the sense of distance between them. The speaker may appear to be conventionally indirect (strategy 1), or show respect to the hearer (strategy 5).
With intention of analyzing comments in the light of cross cultural pragmatics in general and of politeness theory in particular, the author of this research suggests 7 strategies of giving verbal comments. They are following:
Strategy 1: Exaggerate Strategy 2: Give advice Strategy 3: Joke
Strategy 4: Assert concern for hearer’s wants Strategy 5: Be optimistic
Strategy 6: Express surprise Strategy 7: Comfort and encourage
In some cases, the boundary of each strategy is not clear enough because an overlap between positive and negative politeness, and the informants’ choice of various strategies spontaneously can be found through out the research. Thus, the author of the study just carried out the data analysis procedure with the hope of finding the most popular strategies employed by Vietnamese and American judges in giving comments on contestants’
performance.
II.2.2. Strategies realized and discussed
Strategy 1: Exaggerate
In this strategy, exaggeration is expressed by intonation, stress with intensifying modifiers.
The speakers use exaggerative or emphatic words or particles such as sure, really, great, exactly…
This strategy shows the good feeling, attitude and interest of the speaker to the hearer. It is found that when giving comments, the American judges use the exaggeration to intensify the positive feeling, approval or appreciation much more than the Vietnamese judges.
For examples:
Very nicely done.
It was really beautiful.
A pretty, ethereal moment.
Tôi đánh giá cao về cách chọn bài hát của em vì nó mang tính cập nhật với giới trẻ hiện nay.
(I highly appreciate your choice of this song as this song is fashionable with the youth today).
This strategy is used very often by the American, even when they make serious mistakes, for example: what a terrible thing, awful…
Strategy 2: Give advice
By giving advice, the judges want to share their own experience to encourage and overcome weaknesses and difficulties of the contestants.
For examples:
Vietnamese:
Phải mạnh bạo lên. Em cố gắng lên (Be self-confident. Try your best!)
When the judges do not want to select the contestants, they also use this strategy not to hurt the contestants’ feeling and emotion.
For examples:
Chị nghĩ em sẽ làm diễn viên tốt hơn.
(I think you’d better become an actor)
Anh nghĩ rằng thái độ tiếp cận với khán giả cũng khá quan trọng.
(I think that the way to approach with the audience is quite important) Em có cái gì đó lạ nhưng chưa đủ.
(You have something strange but it is not enough)
Tôi thích phong cách này của em nhưng giọng hát thì tôi chưa thích lắm.
(I like your style but not your voice)
It is noticeable that the American judges do not employ this strategy.
Strategy 3: Joke
This strategy is considered to be one of the most useful ways to communicate between the speaker and hearer. When giving comments, the judges use this strategy to lesson the stress and anxiety of the contestants, and then they would feel more comfortable and self- confident for the next rounds. Even if the contestants are not selected, they do not have psychological wound.
For examples:
Haley, did you fall for me? It’s not how many times you fall; it’s how many times you get back up.
This girl is slaying it.
America’s got their work cut out for them.
Tôi thấy em hát hay hơn bà của mình rất nhiều.
(I see that you sang much more beautifully than your grandmother).
Tôi phát hiện ra rằng đôi khi “sexy” không cần phải nhìn.
(I have found out that sometimes “sexy” cannot be seen, instead, “sexy” is expressed through your voice).
Strategy 4: Assert concern for hearer’s wants
This strategy indicates that the speaker and the hearer are cooperators. Judges may show concern and/or deeper concern to contestants about the moments they have experienced.
Sometimes, by expressing surprise, judges also show their concern to contestants.
For examples:
You just keep getting better with your melody. Did I hear you get angry during the modulation when you went upstairs and kicked that song into the middle of next week?
Em có thấy hài lòng với chọn lựa này không?
Em có cảm thấy phong cách này gây khó với em không?
(Do you satisfy with this choice?
Do you find this style difficult to you?)
Anh nhận thấy em có sự tiến bộ trong cách xử lí bài hát.
(I see that you’ve made a progress in dealing with the song).
Strategy 5: Be optimistic
This strategy shows that the judges try to establish a close or intimate relationship with the contestants. By using this strategy, the judges help the contestant feel more self-confident and be optimistic with all the experiences they have done.
For examples:
I’m in love with you. I can tell you know who you are.
That song showed me that you can. You hit it with feeling.
You did it well.
You crack me up. I think you did a good job with it.
Em sẽ thành công với bài hát này.
(You will succeed with this song)
Bài hát này có rất nhiều trải nghiệm và cảm xúc. Sẽ có rất nhiều người “vote” cho em bài hát này.
(This song contains much emotion and experience. You will surely gain much vote from the audience)
Tôi nghĩ em là hình tượng của giới trẻ hiện nay: năng động, trẻ trung và trong sáng.
(I think you are the model of the youth: active, young and pure)
Strategy 7: Express surprise
The judges use this strategy to expose their concern as well as their shock with the contestants. They ask the contestants some reasons, but in some cases they do not wait the answers. This strategy may be applied in the case that the judges find it hard to believe in
the progress or positive changes of the contestants because they do not think the contestants able to make quick progress in short time.
For examples:
Dude, you made Gaga’s ya-ya go la-la. How could you do that? I love the humor, man.
I’m not sure if I believe it. You’re evil; you’re not evil. I just love you, you know that.
You gave me goosies form head to toe.
Tôi không nghĩ là các em hát thành công đến thế.
(I can’t imagine how successfully you performed.)
Strategy 8: Comfort and encourage
This strategy is employed due to the fact that when contestants finished singing, they need more comfort from others, especially from the judges to overcome their stress or nerve.
Those who successfully employ this strategy may show their solidarity and profound understanding of the contestants’ feelings.
For examples:
You walked out here like you owned the Grand Ole Opry. Singing is an extension of who you are, and you are so at ease with your self.
It’s a beautiful song; you’ve got a beautiful voice; and you nailed it again.
I never heard you deliver a chorus like that before. You were living that one.
There were so many moments in that I loved.
Em có tiến bộ về cách phát âm.
(You made progress in articulating)
Em có một thế mạnh đó là phong cách trẻ trung. Em có thể trở thành ca sĩ giải trí rất tốt.
(Your strong point is the young style. You are be able to become an entertaining singer)
Em hát bài này rất tốt và tự nhiên. Em nên như thế mà phát huy.
(You sang this song well and naturally. Go ahead)
II.3 Data analysis of strategies in giving comments on contestants’ performance