Discourse Analysis

I Always Sit Here behind You

It was still very early in the morning, Jack was sitting on the train compartment though. This is the way Jack always does every day to go to work, since his office is somewhat far away from his house. To avoid traffic jams along the rush hours, he more comfortably takes railway transportation. He was now reading a newspaper that he had bought before he got on to kill the tiring hours in a train.

When he was carried away with his reading, he felt a touch on the shoulder and a voice saying, “Good morning, excuse me for asking.” A bit surprised, Jack answered, “Surely”. The man from behind went on, ”Do you lead an interesting life?” “What are you getting at?”, Jack wondered, “Why did you ask me that way? What’s wrong, then? Do I have something to do with you?” The man answered, “No, no I’m sorry but you go to work in the same time every morning, in the same railway station. You sit in the same seat, and you read the same newspaper on the same articles first after another. Do you think that is interesting?”

Somewhat upset, Jack asked him, “Who are you?” How do you know all about me?” In a calm temper the man said,” Yes, of course, because I always sit here behind you every morning. But you don’t answer my question yet?!”

• Supposed you were Jack, then what do you feel the way you do everyday?
• Supposed you were Jack, then what are you going to do with the man latter on?




Indonesian Version

Aku Selalu Duduk di Belakangmu

Saat itu masih sangat pagi, namun Jack telah duduk di dalam gerbong penumpang sebuah kereta api. Begitulah yang dilakukannya setiap hari untuk menuju tempat kerjanya, karena kantornya agak jauh dari temat tinggalnya. Untuk menghindari kemacetan lalu-lintas selama jam-jam sibuk, ia merasa lebih nyaman naik kereta api. Saat itu ia sedang membaca sebuah harian pagi yang dibelinya sebelumnya untuk mengisi waktu luangnya di kereta api.

Ketika ia sedang asik membaca, ia merasa ada orang yang menyentuh bahunya dan mendengar suara menyapanya,”Selamat pagi, maaf, bolehkah saya bertanya?” Sedikit terkejut, Jack menjawab, “Tentu saja”. Orang di belakangnya melanjutkan, “Apakah Anda menjalani kehidupan yang menarik?” Jack agak heran dan berkata, “Apa maksud Anda?” “Mengapa Anda bertanya begitu? Apakah ada sesuatu yang terjadi pada diri saya? Lalu apa hubungannya dengan Anda?” Orang itu lalu menjawab, “Tidak, tidak, maafkan saya, tetapi Anda pergi pada jam yang sama setiap pagi, di stasiun yang sama.” “Anda duduk di kursi kereta yang sama dan membaca koran yang sama dengan urutan artikel yang sama. Apakah itu menarik?”

Dengan agak kesal, Jack bertanya, “Siapa Anda? Mengapa Anda mengerti semuanya tentang diri saya?” Dengan tenang orang tadi menjawab,”Ya, tentu saya tahu semuanya, karena saya selalu duduk di belakang Anda. Tetapi Anda belum menjawab pertanyaan saya, kan?”

Tugas Pak Dwi Setyadi

Describe the passage above seen from this following aspect
1. Interactional and transactional view.
2. Text, utterance related with context.
3. Describe context which is related with using of language.