Impoliteness Strategies in Family Interaction in The D’Amelio Show Season 3

Abstract

This study aims to examine the types and functions of impoliteness strategies used by D’Amelio family in The D’Amelio Show Season 3. This research used a qualitative-descriptive method to provide an in-depth analysis. The data were selected using purposive sampling of 10 episodes from season 3 of The D’Amelio Show.  The data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using Culpeper’s framework (1996; 2011). The results analyzed 22 utterances to five impoliteness strategies: bald on record, positive, negative, sarcasm/mock politeness, and withhold politeness. Negative impoliteness was found to be the most frequently used impoliteness strategy (40.91%), while bald on record impoliteness and withhold politeness were the least frequent (4.55%). In terms of function, three functions were examined: affective, coercive, and entertaining. It was found that the affective function was widely used (50.0%).  The use of impoliteness reflects social dynamics within families, suggesting that impoliteness is not merely a verbal attack but also a means of expressing emotions, displays of intimacy, and interpersonal conflict. This also depends heavily on the context and the relationship between speakers. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of impoliteness in mediated interpersonal communication and provide insights for further research in similar contexts.