THE SOCIA-PRAGMATICS OF JAVANESE SWEARING: COMMON USE OF SWEARWORDS AND THE JAVANESE NORMS OF POLITENESS

Abstract

The importance of Javanese politeness norms with their intricate socio-pragmatic rules does not refrain the Javanese from expressing vulgarity and impoliteness using expressions excluded from the commonly known three speech levels of krama, madya, and ngoko. This paper examines varieties of coarse language and swearwords commonly used by different interlocutors in various Javanese speech events to express different intents. Library research, observations and recorded interactions in social media in this study show the widespread use of swearwords among Javanese at some events by diverse interlocutors for different purposes. The usages of Javanese expletives and profane words not only express anger and frustration defying norms of politeness, but also reveal positive pragmatic intents such as conveying witticisms, openness, and intimacy. As the use of Javanese krama is decreasing drastically among the younger generation, the widespread use of swearwords yearns a recognition of a different speech style that shape norms of (im)politeness and consequently affect perceptions of Javanese identity.