Cultural Environment in Coastal Islamic Boarding School Regarding the Form of Politeness to Kyai

Faculty of Humanities, Diponegoro University, Semarang – Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: tiani.riris@gmail.com

Abstract

The study examines santri speech in a coastal Islamic boarding school which shows politeness in respecting the Kyai. This study aims to describe marks of politeness as a form of respect for Kyai and classify politeness factors in santri speech in the coastal boarding school. This study used a qualitative approach with analysis of pragmatic politeness. The study finds that maxim of wisdom and Javanese proverb are dominating the santri speech. Honorific is the most dominant word chosen to address Kyai. The determinant factors found are linguistic and nonlinguistic factors. The linguistic factor for respecting the Kyai is dominated by Javanese diction and euphemism. The nonlinguistic factor is influenced by the mother tongue of speakers as native speakers. Most of the speakers are Javanese, so santri speech is also in Javanese. The speakers’ loyalty as native speakers is also very high. The linguistic behavior of the santri greatly reflected respect for Kyai. The respect for Kyai can be seen in the diction, language loyalty, and linguistic behavior of the santri who are domiciled in Islamic boarding school environment. This politeness builds the strength of characteristics in the coastal Islamic boarding school.