The topic for my cultural project is language registers in Indonesian.
The Indonesian language has different registers or styles of language that are used in different contexts. There are many styles of language for different occasions; these variations in style form a continuum from informal language -- used among friends and peers -- to formal styles used for official business in offices, schools, and other formal settings.
Some important social factors that influence changes in language registers are
- the relationship between the speakers (the social status relationship between conversational partners);
- the setting (e.g., at home, on the street, in an office, or at a mosque);
- the topic discussed (e.g., academic discussion or casual chat); and
- the medium (oral, written, or electronic).
The outlined bullets above will be my guideline for how to explore this topic further. For example, I will explore the register type used in each bullet point, across different settings: in offices, schools, or in informal settings, which can include among friends.
Indonesia prescribes a strict protocol for a host of topics, language is one important manifestation/product. I would like to explore the reasoning behind this strict protocol and perhaps what happens when the boundaries are crossed. In other words, are there social or professional implications for individuals who do not adhere to the norms and customs guiding register type.
Comments