A Corpus-based Study of the Stereotypical Construction of Sundanese People
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 3, September 2020
Pages:
40-46
Received:
7 July 2020
Accepted:
27 July 2020
Published:
13 August 2020
Abstract: This article uses corpus linguistics methods and theories to study how the Sundanese depicted as people with courteous characters in a 2.9 million-word corpus of Manglé, a Sundanese magazine, published between 1958 and 2013. The study examines the usage patterns of Sundanese words denoting ‘courtesy’ and ‘discourtesy’ in the corpus by employing a mixed-method research design. Using the corpus software WordSmith Tools, the analysis of word frequency found that the courtesy category is lexically more diverse, i.e., containing more lexical units, than the discourtesy category. Besides, the courtesy lexemes are more frequently used than the discourtesy lexemes. Based on collocation analysis, the top three most frequent words signifying courtesy, i.e., SOMÉAH ‘nice and welcome’, MARAHMAY ‘cheerful’, and DARÉHDÉH ‘pleasant and friendly’, have the semantic preference of friendliness; social actions, states, and processes; and people. On the other hand, the semantic preference of the top three most frequent words signifying discourtesy, i.e., BAEUD ‘sullen’, JAMEDUD ‘surly’, and KURAWEUD ‘surly’, is predominantly unfriendly traits. The analyses demonstrate that Sundanese people in the corpus of Manglé are constructed as a friendly community portrayed to have some personality traits such as favorable, friendly, and welcoming, particularly to visitors and strangers. The result seemingly constructs the stereotype of the Sundanese ethnic group that is commonly known among the other ethnic groups in Indonesia as respectful and friendly people.
Abstract: This article uses corpus linguistics methods and theories to study how the Sundanese depicted as people with courteous characters in a 2.9 million-word corpus of Manglé, a Sundanese magazine, published between 1958 and 2013. The study examines the usage patterns of Sundanese words denoting ‘courtesy’ and ‘discourtesy’ in the corpus by employing a m...
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Tribalism, Politics and Hate Discourse in Contemporary Cameroon English; a Linguistic Usurpation
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 3, September 2020
Pages:
47-64
Received:
26 September 2020
Accepted:
12 October 2020
Published:
21 October 2020
Abstract: In our time, casual conversations and political speeches as well as written productions in English in Cameroon are, to a greater extent, replete with ugly expressions full of sheer cloudy vagueness, inaccurate and debased language, consisting largely of euphemisms, pretentious dictions and sometimes meaningless words that depict a people’s experiences of resentment and bitterness as a result of tribalism and hatred. This investigation sets out to observe manifestation of tribalism and hatred in their speech, and to collect typical communicative acts in this light, analyze these as manifestations of tribalism and hate speech acts in contemporary Cameroon English speech. The objective is analyse this form of linguistic impoliteness in order to denounce and decry its devastating stigmatizing effects on living together and national integration, and which if not checked early and appropriately constitute a time-bomb. Different linguistic, sociological, ethnomethodological and psychological methods have been used to collect quantitative and qualitative data from informants, and analyze based on well-established sociological and pragmatic theories referred to as sociopragmatics; one of which is the critical discourse analysis that identifies and exposes the ways in which language, political ideology and tribal power are constantly instantiated and enacted in the everyday conversational discourse in Cameroon, politics and the media. It is important to be note that the words we use have power. Often, speakers are not conscious that the words they use does influence and affect the listener’s thoughts, actions, moral and emotional state and feelings, perception, hence his general behaviour. After the analysis, findings reveal that love for one another, decent speech, and upholding of human moral values are needful among Cameroonians. It builds human relations, mutual self-respect and a stronger nation. Nevertheless, from a purely linguistic perspective, tribalism and hatred have enriched contemporary Cameroon English vocabulary. In conclusion, a multilingual and culturally diversified nation as Cameroon needs a more inclusive participation of all the people for the construction of a better society.
Abstract: In our time, casual conversations and political speeches as well as written productions in English in Cameroon are, to a greater extent, replete with ugly expressions full of sheer cloudy vagueness, inaccurate and debased language, consisting largely of euphemisms, pretentious dictions and sometimes meaningless words that depict a people’s experien...
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