Font Size: 

This paper is part of research about politeness strategy in refusal done by guests of The Ellen Show. This study is aimed to find out types of politeness strategy in refusal and the ways the strategies are used by the guests in refusing invitations, offers, and suggestions in talk show. A qualitative method and library research were applied in gathering the data. The researchers collected transcribed conversation of the guests from eleven most videos viewed of The Ellen Show, read them, and analysed the politeness strategy found in the collected data. As result, the guests used ten politeness strategies in refusal such as solidarity, excuse, promise, show sympathy and consideration first, explicit and direct expression, expression in a less coercive way, give hints, be ambiguous, transfer to another topic, and use body language. Positive politeness was used by the guests in refusing the invitation for agreement, gift offer, and unsolicited suggestion; show concern and develop conversation rapport. Negative politeness/bald on record was used in refusing the invitation for acceptance, favor offer, and unsolicited suggestion; show concern. And off record strategies was used in refusing invitation for action, gift offer, favor offer, opportunity offer, solicited suggestion, and unsolicited suggestion; develop conversation rapport. Therefore, the most strategy used by the guests in doing refusal is off record strategies.