The Impoliteness Strategies Of The Weekend's Songs: A Pragmatic Analysis Based On Culpeper's Theory
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.00000/ijlcl.v2i1.35Keywords:
impoliteness strategies, Culpeper’s theory, pragmatics, song lyrics, The WeekndAbstract
This study analyzes the impoliteness strategies found in The Weeknd’s song lyrics by applying Culpeper’s (1996) theory of impoliteness. Song lyrics are viewed as a form of communicative discourse that often contains face-threatening acts to represent emotional conflict, social relationships, and power dynamics. The study aims to identify the types of impoliteness strategies used in the lyrics and to explain their pragmatic functions. This research employs a qualitative method with data collected from purposively selected song lyrics. The analysis is based on Culpeper’s five impoliteness strategies: bald on record impoliteness, positive impoliteness, negative impoliteness, sarcasm or mock politeness, and withhold politeness. The findings reveal that all five impoliteness strategies are present in The Weeknd’s lyrics. The most dominant strategies are positive impoliteness and sarcasm or mock politeness, which are mainly used to express emotional indifference, relational aggression, and social criticism. Meanwhile, bald on record impoliteness, negative impoliteness, and withhold politeness appear in expressions of direct confrontation, rejection, neglect, and the breakdown of interpersonal relationships. The study concludes that impoliteness in The Weeknd’s song lyrics functions as a pragmatic device to convey emotions, dominance, conflict, and psychological vulnerability. The findings also demonstrate that impoliteness theory is applicable to the analysis of song lyrics beyond conventional conversational discourse.
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