The honorific system in oral texts of historical site guardians in Madiun (Indonesia): a pragmasociostylistic perspective

Abstract

The use of the honorific system in stories told by the guardians of historical sites plays a role in forming speech acts, which contain narrative and discourse. This research explores and analyzes the use of the honorific system in oral texts spoken by guardians of historical sites in Madiun, Indonesia. The method used is a qualitative approach. A total of 10 site guards were designated as participants to be observed and interviewed, then the data were analyzed qualitatively using the flow method. The results show that the guardians of historical sites in Madiun actively use various forms of honorific systems in their verbal interactions with visitors. The use of the honorific system is also used to show respect for ancestors and the historical objects they guard. However, this study also found variations in the use of the honorific system depending on the context and communication situation. In contrast, in daily conversations with fellow community members, the use of the honorific system is more relaxed. This shows flexibility in the use of language and the honorific system, which reflects the social dynamics in the community maintaining historical sites in Madiun. This article provides a deeper understanding of how the honorific system plays a role in supporting culture and traditions in the context of preserving historical sites. These results can also be an essential contribution to understanding the complexity of the Indonesian language and culture and their influence on daily interactions in communities like the Madiun region.

Keywords

• Honorific system
• historical sites guardian
• history of Madiun
• historical sites
• social dynamics
• Jeroen van de Weijer, College of International Studies, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China