STRATEGIES OF POLITENESS USED BY THE AMBONESE IN REFUSING INVITATIONS

The aims of this research is to determine the strategies of politeness refusal used by the Ambonese in refusing invitations, and to determine the effects of social relationship towards the strategies of politeness used by the Ambonese in refusing invitations, The research used a descriptive qualitative approach. The data were collected from direct observation by recording the conversations in any situation between the interlocutors. The data were analyzed based on Yassi’s six models of politeness system, and classifies the strategies of politeness which are formulated by Brown and Levinson, The results show that Ambonese speakers mostly use long refusal sequences, In the interaction between the strangers, Ambonese speakers tend to use bald on record strategy such as direct refusal as a head act of refusals sequence, In intimate relationship, Ambonese speakers tend to combine addressed form, reason, promise, joke or offer new solution as positive politeness strategy. In hierarchal relationship, Ambonese speakers tend to use negative politeness strategies such as give deference and expressing apology by an inferior to a superior person, Culturally, Ambonese people tend to be influenced by Pela gandong to maintain the solidarity in responding and addressing.