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Received: 4th August 2016/ Revised: 3rd October 2016/ Accepted: 8th October 2016
How to Cite: Latjuba, A. Y. (2016). Language As A Socio-Cultural Semiotic: A Case Study on the Fiction Text.
Lingua Cultura, 10(2). 77-81. http://dx.doi.org/10.21512/lc.v10i2.940
ABSTRACT
This article was intended to prove that a language could reflect a socio-cultural situation at a certain period of a nation.
The first step taken to achieve this end was choosing a text that had the appropriate register, in accordance with the purpose.
The fictional text Nocturne was a register which was chosen as the object of research to prove that the language might
reflect the socio-cultural situation of a particular period of a nation. This register had the potential of meaning, both visible
and hidden. Meaning that appeared to come from the system of meaning that was owned by choice of words, phrases, and
sentences. While the meaning that was not visible is the potential meaning that indirectly was stated in the text. The method of
research was interpretation by using a semiotic approach. These words were then associated with sentences in the text, which
explained series of event or actions of the storys figure. From here, it obtained the actual meaning of the text in question. This
article finds out that the form of signs that potentially could have a meaning that is integrated into the text. Thus, by isolating
the socio-cultural system that has the meaning potential in the text, the marker can easily be interpreted through the semiotic
approach. The overall theme of the story can be interpreted two-fold: an overview of the concept of culture Bugis-Makassar
Siri or impression of the situation calm.
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accidental but necessarily in place, because we need them achieve the motivated cultural objectives.
to perform functions in social life.
Potential meanings owned text, as referred Halliday METHODS
(2007) has two characteristics, namely a meaning refers to
the context of the situation and the context of socio-culture. To begin the discussion about the context of situations
Malinowski, as explained by Halliday (2007), has stated that and the context of socio-cultural that may be owned by a
the context of the situation as a concept can be interpreted text, it will be set a few words and sentences that represent
as the environment of the text and context of culture as an the text. Since the preferred register is the configuration of
environment of the linguistic system. a set of sources of meaning that is a member of the special
Nowadays, the concept of context has been culture which associated via a type of situation, which in this
extensively studied from different perspectives and produced case is the situation of fiction, so it is necessary to show only
various definitions such as the context in translation (Hu, the associated words and sentences specific that represent
2010), in pragmatics (Seung, 2009), in discourse analysis the social situation and culture as reflected in the text.
(Song, 2010; Dijk, 2009). While various types of social These words are then associated with sentences in the
processes can be described in terms of linguistics as the text, which explain series of event or actions of the storys
context of the use of language. figure. From here, it obtains the actual meaning of the text in
The context of the situation is simple to be interpreted question. This way, according to Danesi and Perron (1999), is
because it is a picture of a special semantic system owned by called micro semiotic analysis. The purpose of this analysis
words, phrases, and sentences. To understand the semantic is gaining the projected meaning in the construction of texts.
system owned by a language, especially a language used While the potentials meaning possessed which derived from
in literary texts, linguists often use transitivity analysis. the text is the hidden meanings, which are not directly stated
This analysis is conducted to examine the structure of the in the text. Meanings potential, in view Danesi and Perron
sentences presented through the process, the involvement (1999) have represented macro signified. These markers are
of participants in the process, and the circumstances analyzed by connecting them with various codes and text
in which the process and participants are involved. By that make up the order of the marker. In other words, the
using transitivity analysis, researchers can show that the study of specific markers is intertextual analysis. Danesi and
structure of language that can produce certain meanings Perron named this macro-semiotic analysis.
and ideologies which are not always explicit to the reader There are several components of meaning identified
(Nguyen, 2012). While other researchers use this analysis in the text, which is believed to potentially support the texts
to explain the main characters personality (Msuya, 2014) meaning to be conveyed. These are who the author of the
and gender theme. text was, how the position of the text was associated with
When interpreting the context of socio-cultural, the authorship, and how the knowledge of the author had
the meaning can interpret the semantic system across the an impact on a theme or message to be conveyed. All of
language used. Functional Linguistics put an emphasis on these are markers that will be interpreted using a semiotic
the relationship between language and context. The thinking approach.
is that it is impossible to understand the meaning of what
people say or write, without knowing anything about RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
the context of the surrounding text. Vice versa, if people
understand the utterances of the speaker or understand the The object being observed stems from the sound
writing, it means that it can also describe the context of the of voices drum heard faintly from a distance, the sound
situation.The relationship between language and context is heard initially dimmed (doffe Dutch), then pressing
appears as a reciprocal relation, where one is the realization (dringende Dutch), finally banging loudly (kloppende
of others, in this case, the text to realize the context of the klanken Dutch). The context of the situation is reinforced
situation and the linguistic systems to realize the culture by the depiction of a tranquil natural situation (de stille,
(Figueiredo, 2010). blinkende zee Dutch), in the middle of the night (het was
Meanings potential is an option of meanings that middernacht Dutch), even when the universe amid in the
paradigmatic presented in the system, and through these silence (waneer de wereld zweeg Dutch).
choices, members of culture have access to their language. In the second and third paragraphs the depiction of
The term of the register can be defined as variations the object being observed, that may be a theme of this story,
of meanings of a text as an institution whose produces is done by applying rhythm binary opposition, not only on
language. Thus, you can say that the register is a variety the depiction of nature, but also on the human, which is
of meaning according to the use. Originally, the register represented by the word they (zij Dutch), as well as their
understands in terms of lexicogrammar. As a variant of the activities. The people illustrated have quiet voice, soft as
language, the register is determined not only by its users whispered (zacht flustered Dutch), but they can also shout
but also by its use. Briefly, it can be said that the register is loudly till sweated (zij luid en bezwerend riepen Dutch).
determined by what people say as the reference. They were as excited as Makassar horses at the beginning
In the view of Martin, as quoted in Figueiredo of the race (als vurige Makassaarse paarden aan het begin
(2010), registers and genres are a semiotic system distinct van een reis Dutch), but when dancing (dansten Dutch)
from other semiotic, such as language. In the sense that they were like small dancers (kleine danseressen Dutch),
a language is presented in the both semiotic system, just earnest, need to be protected, still timid and nervous.
the way that the language creates meaning through the However, they can act like men maintain their heroic
selected words and structure has made it different. Register actions. They fight for life and death (zij vochten een strijd
corresponds to the context of the situation, and genre to op leven en dood- Dutch). They stabbed, due to insult
the cultural context. Both use the language as a mediator (beledigingen Dutch). They died together (zij stierven
to make it happen. Examining the cultural context means zelve Dutch).
involves actions to observe how language is structured to The next paragraph, after the first three paragraphs,