Pragmatic Perspective on Phatic Functions and Language Dignity

Abstract

This paper means to elaborate phatic functions and language dignity of the Javanese culture-based society in Indonesia by using the Pragmatic perspective. The unclear rules of language functions, including the rules of Indonesian phatic functions, and the incomplete descriptions of language dignity will result in improper development of the language . The case seemingly happened in the Indonesian language including its dialects and vernaculars. Therefore, the researcher conducted this research to overcome this matter. There were two data collection methods used in this study, namely the observation method and the interview method. Each method was implemented through its basic and advanced techniques. The substantial source of research data was the excerpts of utterances delivered by Javanese speech community members. The process of data collection ended when the researcher finished classifying and typifying data. There were two kinds of data analysis methods used in this study, namely the distributional analysis method and the equivalent analysis method. The research result asserted that there are seven phatic functions found in the Javanese culture-based society in Indonesia, nemely: (1) joking function, (2) complimenting function, (3) apologizing function, (4) rejecting function, (5) avoiding function, (6) affirming function, and (7) reminding functions. Besides, the research result also asserted that the efforts to dignify the Indonesian language cannot stop when the linguistic rules are described in terms of linguistic definitions. The linguistic rules intertwining with the language uses as shown in the pragmatic phenomena need to be promoted continuously.