English Used by Non-English Department Students in Email: Deixis and Politeness Strategy

Abstract

Email is a digital means of communication that enables the transfer of messages and information through the Internet. In academic contexts, it is frequently utilized as a platform for sending assignment materials or offering feedback on designated tasks. Pragmatics has a significant connection to the utilization of English in email correspondence. Recognition of cultural norms and communicative conventions is paramount when it comes to English emails, especially in formal and professional settings. Non-English department students may encounter difficulties in grasping and implementing these norms, and this aspect will be investigated in the following analysis. The study aims to discover the types of deixis and politeness strategies employed by non-English department students in their email communication. A descriptive qualitative method was used to analyse the deixis and politeness strategy according to Brown and Levinson theory. The data were taken from the English assignment that was submitted by the non-English department students. Based on the data analysis, the 5 types of deixis and 4 kinds of politeness strategies were used by the students in their email. Besides, this study contributes to English language teaching both in spoken and written communication, including writing emails, letters, or other forms of written expression.