A SOCIOLINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF INTERRUPTION IN MIXED-SEX CONVERSATIONS REFLECTED IN GOSSIP GIRL TV SERIES

Abstract

This research investigates interruption in the mixed-sex conversations presented in Gossip Girl TV series. The objectives of this research are to identify the types and to discover the functions of interruption in the mixed-sex conversations in Gossip Girl TV series.

This research employed sociolinguistics as the approach of analysis. It was conducted by using mixed- method qualitative and quantitative. The data were in the form of utterances spoken by the characters of Gossip Girl TV series in the mixed-sex conversations. In addition, the context of the data was the dialogues that contained interruption. Meanwhile, the source of data of this research was the videos of the first season of Gossip Girl TV series. The primary instrument of this research was the researcher herself and the secondary instrument was a data sheet. The data were collected by selecting the dialogues that contained interruption, and then classified the collected data into the data sheet. The techniques of data analysis were conversation analysis and referential analysis. The analysis of research findings were checked by conducting triangulation. The triangulation was done by discussing and consulting the data to the supervisors and the peer reviewers.

The results of this research are explained as follows. First, all types of interruption are found in Gossip Girl TV

series. The findings show that overlap becomes the most frequent type and butting-in interruption becomes the least frequent type of interruption. Overlap interruption occurs 24 times in men’s speech and only 9 times in women’s speech. It indicates that men have more urgency to express or say their opinion in the middle of conversations by grabbing others turn of speaking. Therefore, in this case, they tend to perform overlap interruption over butting-in interruption. Second, all functions of interruption are found in the TV series. The functions of interruption are divided into intrusive and cooperative interruption. The result shows that the male and female characters of Gossip Girl TV series use interruption as an intrusive act rather than as a cooperative act. The male characters tend to use interruption which functions as topic change. It is because they are not interested with the topic of discussion. On the other hand, the female characters in Gossip Girl TV series perform interruption as tangentialization which means that they use interruption to end the discussion with men in mixed-sex conversations in the TV series.