Kesantunan berbahasa orang Melayu menerusi gaya pengurusan air muka dalam saga: aplikasi teori Ting-Toomey

This study aims to identify events of impoliteness in terms of behaviour and speech that can affect “face” in various contexts and analyse how “face” is managed among Malays, based on the shame-evoking events in the novel Saga written by Abdul Talib Mohd. Hassan (2004). 21 events related to the concept have been analysed by applying Face Negotiation Theory introduced by Stella Ting-Toomey (1988). This theory present four styles of face negotiation: face restoration, face saving, face assertion and face giving. The findings reveal that the category of face assertion is the highest frequency of 16 events compared to other categories. The study also shows that the Malays could be lenient in many ways but not cases involving self-esteem, status and dignity.