The Pragmatics of Javanese People: Pride, Identity, and Living Capital in a Digital Era

Abstract

In midst of the modernization, xenoglossophobia might affect the local’s pride, identity, and living capital. This study aimed to describe Javanese people’s pride of their local language along with the related aspects contributing to how they lived. This study used the ethnographic method of research upon the Javanese community in a rural area whose people were still conservative. The study took two months to complete. The participants were chosen using purposive random sampling. Data were collected using field notes for observation and unstructured interviews and were analyzed qualitatively with descriptive approach. Results showed that Javanese people’s pride of their local language was still high, of which they used the values retracted from the language as fundamental living norms. Another finding portrayed that this community was reluctant to appropriate foreign language due to dissimilar identity that leads to experiencing xenoglossophobia. The last finding conveys that people are content to live traditionally and less modernized. This study implies that xenoglossophobia might affect the Javanese people’s pride, identity, and living capital. This study also infers that the difference between Javanese and foreign language identity could be the basis of the occurring linguistic rebellion and xenoglossophobia.