Imperative Speech Acts in Javanese Songs

Dr. Sri Hesti Heriwati

Abstract: As embodiment in communication in language use, there will be certain ways which are applied by speakers or writers in producing their thought. One of the ways is to reveal the ideas through typical language showing the soul and personality of the writer or the language user. Language cannot only help man to think regularly but also to communicate what is being thought to others. Through languages, people are able to express their attitudes and feelings. In poetry - tembang (song) is used to state expressiveness and effectiveness and therefore it is revealed in the poetry according to similarity in the emotion and perception of the writers towards their surroundings. Therefore, it is not surprising that poetry/tembang is rich of expressions since some features of the real world have been transferred in poetry including tembang. Tembang has a tight relation with lyrics which are commonly used in the song and therefore it is a form of poem together with accompaniment. According to the observation, this paper tries to see the role of language in Javanese songs seen from pragmatic parameter (imperative).

Keywords: language, Javanese song, pragmatics, imperative