Language courteousness among counsellor trainees in counseling sessions [Kesantunan berbahasa kaunselor pelatih dalam Sesi Kaunseling]

Wan Robiah, Hj Meor Osman and Hamidah, Abdul Wahab (2018) Language courteousness among counsellor trainees in counseling sessions [Kesantunan berbahasa kaunselor pelatih dalam Sesi Kaunseling]. GEMA Online Journal of Language Studies, 18 (1). pp. 252-269. ISSN 1675-8021

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Abstract

Language politeness, in general, refers to the use of polite language in oral communication. It is important for interaction between individuals to establish good impression and relationship. Often, it is also associated with the culture of a society. In a counselling session, the main objective is to guide the clients to solve problems that they experience. Therefore, speaking courteously in a counseling session is important to create good and comfortable relationship between the counselor or the trainee counselor with their clients. Hence, this study investigates whether the act of speaking courteously is present in the interaction between trainee counselors and their clients by applying the politeness principle (Leech, 1983). This study utilizes data from 30 trainee counsellors from UNIMAS counseling program that was collected by recording and transcribing the conversation between the trainees and their clients. The result from this study indicated that the six maxims; tact, generosity, approbation, modesty, agreement, and sympathy, as proposed by Leech (1983) were applied by UNIMAS trainee counsellors in the counseling sessions. The presence of the six maxims based on Leech’s politeness principle showed that the use of language politeness is an important strategy in speaking to create a comfortable environment between the trainee counselors and their clients. Therefore, the use of language politeness in a counselling session is one of the strategies in speaking that needs to be given specific attention by counselors or trainee counselors to ensure the goal of guiding and solving the clients’ problems can be dealt well and effectively. © 2018, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Press. All rights reserved.

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