Politeness in Directive and Expressive Speech Acts in the Javanese Short Film Seutas Kenangan by Kaistimewan
Abstract
This study explores the realization of politeness strategies in directive and expressive speech acts within the Javanese short film Seutas Kenangan by Kaistimewan. Grounded in speech act theory (Searle, 1979 and Leech’s (1983) politeness principle, the research is further contextualized by unggah-ungguhing basa, a culturally embedded framework of speech level usage in Javanese language. Through a descriptive qualitative method, the study analyzes selected utterances from the film to identify how characters employ various levels of politeness in relation to social context, power relations, and emotional tone. The analysis reveals that directive and expressive speech acts are frequently realized through speech levels such as ngoko lugu, ngoko alus, krama lugu, and krama alus, each reflecting specific interpersonal dynamics. The findings indicate that politeness in Javanese is not merely a linguistic formality but is deeply rooted in cultural norms of deference, humility, and relational sensitivity. Notably, the film exemplifies how pragmatic choices are shaped by the cultural imperative to maintain harmony (rukun) and avoid social discomfort (ewuh pakewuh). This study highlights the importance of incorporating localized pragmatic systems into the broader discourse on politeness, challenging universalist models and expanding cross-cultural understandings of speech behavior.
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