Towards a Character Language: A Probability in Language Use

Jumanto  

Faculty of Cultural Studies (FIB), Dian Nuswantoro University, Semarang, Indonesia.

DOI: 10.4236/ojml.2014.42027                

Abstract

This opinion paper is about a probability in language use, about how a competent speaker should be aware of speaking for politeness or for camaraderie, and be capable of avoiding impoliteness. The main aspects of pragmatics are briefly introduced and then elaborated as building-blocks ofcharacter language. The proposed building blocks are: 1) elaboration of meaning and form strategies, 2) distant languageand close language strategies, 3) politeness and camaraderie strategies, 4) object language and metalanguage strategies. A view on character language in Indonesian context is given, on how politeness, camaraderie, and impoliteness are elaborated; and then, six phases ofcharacter languagebuilding are proposed as a verbal social project: 1) interaction phase, 2) teaching-and-learning process phase, 3) evaluation phase, 4) re-evaluation phase, 5) verification phase, 6) selection phase. Upon the completion of a character language building, a competent speaker is presumably well-equipped for using language in a particular situation that may call.

Keywords

Verbal Interaction, Politeness, Camaraderie, Social Distance, Object Language, Metalanguage, Character, Language Use, Probability, Rude Situation, Awkward Situation, Character Language

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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