Euphemism in SAiA Short Stories by Djenar Maesa Ayu as a Model

for Establishing Language Politeness in Indonesian Language

Learning: Corpus Linguistic Studies

Icha Dwi Kartika

and Ngusman Abdul Manaf

Master of Indonesian Language and Literature, Padang State University, Jl. Prof. Dr. Hamka, Padang City, Indonesia

Faculty of Languages and Arts, Padang State University, Jl. Prof. Dr. Hamka, Padang City, Indonesia

Keywords: Euphemism, Short Stories, Language Politeness, Corpus Linguistics.

Abstract: This research is motivated by the many unpleasant actions or events that, if stated as they are, will offend

other people in communication activities. The purpose of this research is to find out how the euphemisms in

the collection of SAiA short stories by Djenar Maesa Ayu can be used as a model for forming politeness in

Indonesian language learning in Junior High Schools, which is carried out with a corpus linguistic approach.

The research data in words, phrases, and clauses were obtained from the speech of the characters in the story,

which contained elements of euphemism. Data collection used the document technique through the corpus

linguistic method, namely the Indonesian Archipelago Corpus (KORTARA). The triangulation technique is

used in validating research data. Research data analysis techniques include categorization, tabulation, and

interpretation with substitution techniques to find similarities and differences in euphemism as a replacement

form. The findings show that there are eight forms of euphemisms, namely (a) figurative expressions, (b)

metaphors, (c) flippancy, (d) circumlocutions, (e) abbreviations, (f) one for one substation, (g) part for whole

euphemisms, and (h) hyperbole; euphemisms in the collection of short stories SAiA by Djenar Maesa Ayu can

be used as a model for forming language politeness in learning Indonesian discussion texts for class IX at

Junior High School related to basic competency 4.10.

1 INTRODUCTION

In daily communication, there are many unpleasant

actions or events, but if stated as they are, they will

offend other people. Therefore, speakers are trying to

find ways to convey ideas, thoughts, and feelings with

the same intention that can be conveyed. However,

other people's feelings are not offended, so there is

much use of euphemisms. The use of euphemisms can

be said as a consideration in language. If it is deemed

inappropriate, it is replaced with other words or

expressions that are better and more polite.

In this regard, understanding is needed in

selecting diction so that speech looks more polite in

communicating orally and in writing. Politeness in

language can show the character of the speaker. Thus,

in expressing ideas, thoughts, ideas, and feelings in

all conditions, he can choose words or expressions

that are good and polite. Brown & Stephen (1987)

stated that language politeness is a speaker's attempt

to maintain the face (self-esteem) of speakers and

speech partners. According to Leech (1993),

politeness is an attempt to make the possibility of

impolite beliefs and opinions as small as possible.

Therefore, understanding the choice of diction is

important to avoid impolite expressions. Forms of

speech or expressions that are considered more polite

and subtle in linguistics are referred to as

euphemisms.

Euphemism or euphemism is a type of change in

meaning and part of language style. In literary works,

euphemism is certainly used. The form conveyed in

this figure of speech is inseparable from language.

This figure of speech can respect the reader with

adjustments to the context (Saputri et al., 2019).

According to Allan & Burridge (1991), Euphemism

is a term used to replace inappropriate/inappropriate

expressions to avoid the possibility of losing face to

the speech partner and the listener. Euphemism refers

to the refinement of words considered rude, impolite,

and taboo so that the listener or speech partner is not

offended. Euphemisms have a lot to do with humans,

Kartika, I. and Manaf, N.

Euphemism in SAiA Short Stories by Djenar Maesa Ayu as a Model for Establishing Language Politeness in Indonesian Language Learning: Corpus Linguistic Studies.

DOI: 10.5220/0012196300003738

Paper published under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

In Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Innovation in Education (ICoIE 4 2022) - Digital Era Education After the Pandemic, pages 38-45

ISBN: 978-989-758-669-9; ISSN: 2975-9676

both related to nature, bodies, actions, and social

reality, which are considered bad (Fadely, 2018).

In literary works, many novels use euphemisms,

and this is because many activities or actions, when

expressed as they are, will feel rude or offend other

people. In the collection of short stories SAiA by

Djenar Maesa Ayu, there are many elements of

euphemism to soften words that are considered harsh,

which the author uses to convey messages more

politely. The finding of the euphemism element refers

to its formation. Allan & Burridge (1991) suggest

several views in determining the form of euphemism.

These forms of euphemism include (1) figurative

expressions, (2) metaphors, (3) flippancy, (4)

remodeling, (5) circumlocutions, (6) clipping, (7)

acronyms, (8) abbreviations, (9) omission, (10) one

for one substation, (11) general for specific, (12) part

for whole euphemisms, (13) hyperbole, (14)

understatement, (15) jargon, and (16) colloquial.

However, not all forms of euphemism in the

collection of short stories SAiA by Djenar Maesa Ayu

are the same as the forms of euphemism put forward

by Allan & Burridge.

The use of euphemisms in literary works can be

said to be a form of tolerance in conveying thoughts

and ideas by using good and polite language so as not

to offend other parties. Likewise, in interactions at

school, euphemisms can support the achievement of

character education by forming friendly and

communicative behavior that is high intolerance.

However, in classroom learning interactions, it is not

uncommon to use expressions that are considered

impolite. It certainly impacts losing self-confidence

and feeling unappreciated between students, teachers,

and fellow students. Based on these considerations, it

is important to study euphemism as a model for

forming language politeness in schools.

Much research has been done on euphemisms in

educational units. Nawangwulan (2017) examines the

use of euphemisms in the Solopos editorial in the

February-March 2017 edition and their implications

as Indonesian language teaching materials in the SMP

curriculum 2013 KD 4.1. The findings show the

forms of euphemism found in the study, namely

figurative expression, one word replacing another,

abbreviations, use of borrowed words, flippancy,

foreign languages, metaphors, idioms, hyperboles,

circumlocutions, and acronyms. These forms can be

used as Indonesian language teaching materials for

review text material in class VIII SMP.

Sabarua (2019) examines euphemism as an

alternative to language politeness in classroom

learning interactions. The findings show that

euphemisms can be used as an alternative in reducing

teachers' speaking or language activities that have

nuances of violence, racism, harassment, or

unpleasant expressions. Forms of euphemisms that

teachers can use include; euphemisms related to

death, euphemisms related to sex, euphemisms

related to illness and disability, euphemisms related

to bodily excretion, euphemisms related to social

reality, which is considered something bad,

euphemisms related to unpleasant fate, euphemisms

related to bad traits, and euphemisms related to things

that can cause harm.

Sabilla et al. (2021) examine euphemisms' form

and function in Tempo: co-opinion articles and their

use as teaching materials for learning Indonesian in

high school. The findings show that there are ten

forms of euphemism in Tempo. Co-opinion articles,

namely one word replacing another word, figurative

expressiveness, and metaphor. Use of abbreviations,

acronyms, general to specific; use of borrowed words.

Use of foreign terms. Perphrases. Colloquial and

general to specific. This euphemism is used as

teaching material for learning Indonesian in editorial

text material in class XII high school.

Some of the findings that have been described

have relevance to the research that researchers have

conducted. The similarities to the research conducted

by Nawangwulan (2017), Sabarua (2019), and Sabilla

et al. (2021) both study forms of euphemism. The

difference lies in the research focus and data sources.

Nawangwulan's (2017) research focuses on using

euphemisms in Indonesian language teaching

materials for reviewing text material in junior high

schools. The data source is the Solopos editorial.

Sabarua (2019) focuses on using euphemisms as an

alternative to language politeness in class, and the

data sources are students and teachers. Sabilla et al.

(2021) the use of euphemisms in Indonesian language

teaching materials for editorial text materials in high

school, and the data source is Tempo—co-opinion

articles. Unlike the research that has been done

before, this research focuses on the form of

euphemism as a model for forming politeness in

language learning Indonesian discussion text material

in junior high school, and the data source is a

collection of short stories carried out with a corpus

linguistics approach to facilitate the data collection

process. Cheng (2021) argues that corpus linguistics

is an empirical method in linguistic analysis and

description to study the language used by speakers

naturally. Corpus linguistics works by analyzing data

through a compilation process based on categories

and units of analysis. In the next stage, the most

important categories and units of analysis in corpus

linguistics are word lists, keywords, and

Euphemism in SAiA Short Stories by Djenar Maesa Ayu as a Model for Establishing Language Politeness in Indonesian Language

Learning: Corpus Linguistic Studies

concordances. A word list is many words in the

linguistic data and the number of times they appear in

the source text. Keywords are groups of words with

the highest frequency of occurrence and are assumed

to represent the main topic in the text. Concordance

is a list of words that collocate with other words and

form a new meaning based on the context.

The use of corpus linguistics in this study is to use

technology in education, bearing in mind that the data

in the research findings are not small. Hence, the

research findings are more reliable by using corpus

linguistics, namely KORTARA.

Based on the description that has been explained,

this study aims to find out how the euphemisms in

Djenar Maesa Ayu's collection of SAiA short stories

can become a model in shaping politeness in

Indonesian language learning in junior high schools.

2 METHOD

Based on the problems that become research studies

that focus on in-depth and thorough analysis

processes, this research is qualitative research with

descriptive methods (Moleong, 2010). This method is

used to examine the use of language referring to

euphemisms in fictional stories in the form of a

collection of short stories. Analytical and operational

approaches are also used to support the data review

process. An analytic approach is useful for looking

for differences and similarities in meaning

components in linguistic forms with

similarities/synonyms. In contrast, an operational

approach is an approach that is useful for finding

similarities and differences in the use of linguistic

forms that are synonymous in various contexts

(Pateda, 2010). Data in the form of facts are presented

and become the research results (Ulfatin, 2014). The

data of this research are in the form of words, phrases,

and clauses that contain elements of euphemism in

the collection of short stories SAiA (Ayu, 2017),

which are obtained from the speeches of the story

characters. The research data source is a collection of

SAiA short stories which contains 14 short stories and

one novel excerpt, namely Air (A), Dan Lalu (DL),

Nol-Dream Land (NDL), Sementara (SM), Kulihat

Awan (KA), Fantasi Dunia (FD), SAiA (SI), Qurban

Iklan (QI), Urbandit (U), Gadis Korek Api (GKA),

Insomnia (I), Dewi Sialan! (DS), Mata Telanjang

(MT), dan Ranjang: Sebuah Cuplikan Novel (RCV).

The process of collecting research data used the

document technique. The document in question is a

collection of short stories SAiA by Djenar Maesa Ayu

through free engagement and proficient viewing to

obtain credible findings (Mahsun, 2007). To facilitate

data collection, researchers use research tools in

linguistic applications, namely the Indonesian

archipelago (KORTARA), where spoken and written

language is collected systematically (Nesselhauf,

2011). The triangulation technique is used in

validating research data. The analysis of research data

refers to the view of Wiyatmi (2017) that

categorization, tabulation, and interpretation can be

used in analyzing data in literary works. Data

processing techniques are also used to support the

findings, namely substitution techniques. Substitution

techniques are used to find/find similarities and

differences in euphemisms as substitute forms. The

replacement technique replaces elements with the

same meaning as the Big Indonesian Dictionary

(Sudaryanto, 1993).

3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

3.1 Forms of Euphemism in the

Collection of SAiA Short Stories by

Djenar Maesa Ayu

This research focuses on the form of euphemism in

the collection of SAiA short stories by Djenar Maesa

Ayu as a model for forming politeness in language

learning Indonesian discussion text material in junior

high school, corpus linguistics. Based on the theory

used as an indicator in research according to Allan &

Burridge (1991), the forms of euphemisms in the

collection of short stories SAiA by Djenar Maesa Ayu

found as many as eight forms of euphemisms. The

form of euphemism in the collection of SAiA short

stories by Djenar Maesa Ayu was collected using the

Indonesian Archipelago.

Based on Table 1, it is known that in the collection of

SAiA short stories by Djenar Maesa Ayu, there are

eight forms of euphemisms, including figurative

expressions with a percentage of 2.9%, metaphors

Forms of eu

hemisms Amount Percenta

urative Ex

ressions 4 2.9%

Meta

12 8.8%

Flippanc

2 1.4%

Circumlocution 10 7.3%

Abbreviations 2 1.4%

One-fo

-One Substation 98 72.4%

Part of Whole

Euphemisms

6 4.4%

erbole 2 1.4%

Amount 136 100%

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with a percentage of 8.8%, flippancy with a

percentage of 1.4%, circumlocutions with a

percentage of 7.3%, abbreviations with a percentage

of 1.4%, one for one substation with a percentage of

72.4%, part for whole euphemisms with a percentage

of 4.4%, and hyperbole with a percentage of 1.4%.

Based on the findings obtained, it can be said that the

euphemism that often appears or is used is the one-

for-one substation euphemism

3.1.1 Forms of Euphemism Figurative

Expressions

Words, phrases, clauses, and sentences can be

regarded as euphemistic forms of figurative

expression if they are symbolic, simile, or figurative.

That is, the form of euphemism figurative expressions

is a form that refines words or expressions by

symbolizing, likening, or alluding to other forms.

 Sometimes I also want to fly far into the past.

Far back into the past. He did not meet his

father, who just let go. (A, 2017, p. 6)

In sentence (1), the phrase hands off is chosen as

a euphemism for not wanting anything to do anymore.

The hands-off phrase is a verb phrase that refers to an

activity. In sentence (1), the phrase hands-off does not

mean letting go of hands, but it means not wanting to

have anything to do with them anymore. The author

feels the use of figures of speech has a finer sense of

value than not wanting to deal with it anymore. This

phrase is an expression that states the indifference of

the opposing character as a form of refinement.

 They did not care even though I cried for mercy

and groaned in pain. Only when they punished me

did their opinions no longer contradict each

other. (SI, 2017, p. 72)

In sentence (2), the phrase no longer contradicts

is chosen as a euphemism for the same/agree. Phrases

no longer opposite are adverb phrases that refer to

location or position. In sentence (2), the phrase no

longer opposites does not mean opposite or across the

street but has the same meaning or agreement. This

figure of speech is the same as sentences of opposing

opinions considered more subtle than contradictory.

The author uses the figure of speech no longer

contradictory to show freedom in expressing so that

sentence (2) has a more refined sense value.

 His friends disappeared as if swallowed by the

Earth because of panic. The only testimony that

can be obtained about Nayla is from neighbors

who say that she comes home in the morning

drunk after the discotheque disbands every day. (I,

2017, p. 111)

In sentence (3), the phrase swallowed by the Earth

is chosen as a euphemism for disappearing or

disappearing. The phrase swallowed by the Earth is a

verb phrase. However, in a sentence (3), the phrase

swallowed by the Earth does not mean being eaten by

the Earth but has the meaning of disappearing or

disappearing. The author feels that using figures of

speech has a more subtle sense of value than the word

vanishing. This phrase is an expression that states the

indifference of the opposing character as a form of

refinement.

3.1.2

Forms of Metaphor Euphemisms

Words, phrases, clauses, and sentences can be said to

be a form of metaphorical euphemism if they are an

implicit comparison between two different things.

That is, the form of metaphorical euphemism is a

form that refines words or expressions by comparing

two vaguely different things.

 Dull hair that has been dyed a dark brown color.

Height tricked with high heels and thicker than the

tombstone. Anyone can become the Goddess of

the Night. (DS, 2017, p. 116)

In sentence (4), the phrase Goddess of the Night is

chosen as a euphemism for prostitutes or prostitutes.

The phrase Dewi Malam is a phrase that refers to a

noun that compares Dewi Malam with the character

in the story. The Goddess of the Night is known as the

nickname of the moon because of the beauty of its

light at night. However, in sentence (4), the phrase

Goddess of the Night does not have the meaning of

the moon but has another meaning. The author's use

of the Night Goddess metaphor avoids the immodest

and most disgusting words/expressions so that it is in

line with the language of euphemism as a polite

expression in conveying satire and feelings.

 Every day Nayla spends time going to and from

school with the driver, who, in the middle of the

road, often invites her to play dice. If Nayla

guesses the number of the dice correctly, she is

allowed to crush the lollipop under her driver's

pants. If Nayla guesses the wrong number on the

dice, she must allow the driver's lollipop to be

dipped in the chocolate under his pants. (SM,

2017, p. 52)

In sentence (5), there are two forms of

metaphorical euphemisms: the word chocolate and

the phrase lollipop. Both euphemisms refer to nouns.

The author compares chocolate and lollipops with

euphemistic meanings regarding sex, namely female

and male genitalia. Chocolate said was chosen as the

euphemism for the vagina, while the phrase lollipop

was chosen as the euphemism for the penis. Based on

Euphemism in SAiA Short Stories by Djenar Maesa Ayu as a Model for Establishing Language Politeness in Indonesian Language

Learning: Corpus Linguistic Studies

the context of the sentence, it is known that Nayla's

character is a child. Hence the word chocolate and the

phrase lollipop is judged to be more subtle than their

true meaning by directly stating female and male

genitalia. Through these metaphors, the author

intends that readers can use metaphorical forms in

certain circumstances to avoid taboo words.

3.1.3 Forms of Flippancy Euphemism

Words, phrases, clauses, and sentences can be

flippant euphemisms if they contain meanings other

than statements. That is, the form of flippancy

euphemism is a form that has a meaning beyond what

is stated.

 Even Nayla knows that people who often sell

morals in various media are actors and users too.

All eyes were opened when they were caught in a

room with a woman in a five-star hotel room.

(SM, 2017, p. 54)

In sentence (6), the phrase sale moral is chosen as

a euphemism for selling adab. The phrase sale moral

refers to the verb, which is the act of indulgence. The

sale means selling, while moral means good and bad

teachings regarding deeds. Based on the context of

the sentence, the phrase sale moral has a different

meaning, the author conveys the insinuation that

many public figures show good morals, but the actual

behavior is the opposite of what is shown to the

public. Thus the phrase sale morals in a sentence (6)

has meaning outside of a statement or is flippant.

Moral sale phrases are considered more refined, so

the euphemism serves to smooth speech.

 So when Nayla's child shared what her mother had

told her friends, she suddenly became a

laughingstock. Moreover, when her friends told

their mothers, Nayla became a target. (FD, 2017,

p. 63)

In sentence (7), the phrase used as a bully is

chosen as a euphemism for a toy or object of anger.

The meaning of the phrase bully does not mean an

artificial object resembling the moon. However, in the

context of sentence (7), the meaning that arises is a

toy or target of anger, so the meaning of a toy or target

of anger is more euphemistic, using the phrase bully

material. Thus the phrase material for the moon in a

sentence (7) has meaning outside the statement or is

flippant.

3.1.4 Circumlocution Euphemisms

Words, phrases, clauses, and sentences can be said to

be a form of circumlocutionary euphemism if used in

some longer and more indirect words. That is, the

form of circumlocution euphemism is a form whose

expression is longer than the actual meaning.

 Then told to stand all day without anyone

covering his feet. However, the screams of pain

that wanted to come out of his mouth could only

then scream in his mind. No heat could burn him

alive for Lalu except for the coals in his mother's

eyes. (DL, 2017, p. 10)

In sentence (8), the clause coals in his mother's

eyes mean anger or anger. However, in writing, it is

not written directly. However, using words or

expressions that are longer to be considered subtle

compared to anger or rage. Based on the context,

sentence (8) explains that the author expresses the

fear of Lalu's character to his mother so that from the

eyes of the mother character, you can already see

anger and fury. The value of the taste of the ember

clause in his mother's eyes is considered more polite

in its disclosure.

 Darkness has taught me always to forgive those

around me. Since childhood, I have chosen to hide

in the dark. When my husband comes home

drunk, I pretend to close my eyes into the

darkness. (MT, 2017, p. 127)

In sentence (9), the clause closes that entering

darkness means sleeping. The clause closing into the

dark refers to the verb. Claus closed into the darkness

of the euphemism of the word stretch/sleep. Based on

the context, sentence (9) describes the character I,

who is used to hiding in the dark, so the word sleep is

expressed by closing the expression to enter the

darkness. This clause has a more refined and polite

taste value than the word delay.

3.1.5

Forms of Euphemism Abbreviations

Words, phrases, clauses, and sentences can be said to

be abbreviated euphemisms if they are abbreviated

words into several letters. The form abbreviation

euphemism is a form in which the expression is

shortened to a letter or a combination of letters.

 Nayla feels that people who lie too often can no

longer distinguish between lies and truth. They

also treat people with HIV/AIDS, like Nayla,

without feelings. They see Nayla as lower than

animals. (SM, 2017, p. 54)

In sentence (10), there is an abbreviated

euphemism for the word HIV/AIDS. This form of

euphemism refers to a noun, namely disease. Based

on the context of the sentence (10), the author

conveys that the character Nayla suffers from a

disease that makes people around her view her as

lower than animals. The community calls HIV/AIDS

a cursed disease because society has been

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indoctrinated that the disease is considered to only be

contagious to certain people. HIV/AIDS stands for

Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired

Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Therefore, HIV/AIDS

is considered more subtle than the phrase cursed

disease, so this euphemism avoids taboo words.

3.1.6 One for One Substation Euphemism

Words, phrases, clauses, and sentences can be

regarded as euphemisms where one word replaces

another word if that form can replace other forms. The

use of a word is considered more euphemistic than

one other word. It usually uses synonyms to produce

a more refined expression.

 The thick yellow water was overflowing from my

mouth, they said. I took fifty calming pills I

downed. It should have been a hundred pills like

the ones Marilyn Monroe consumed until she

died. (A, 2017, p. 7)

In sentence (11), the word death is chosen as a

euphemism for death. The word death is synonymous

with the word death. The word death in this context

is considered softer than death because it refers to a

person, namely Marilyn Monroe. The word dead is

usually used for animals and plants, so the use of the

word is considered taboo which animals and plants

often use.

 The number that lights up on the elevator wall

reminds Nayla of her wedding date. The grand

wedding that his parents wanted. Nayla left a real

soul mate. (NDL, 2017, p. 43)

In sentence (12), the word marriage is chosen as

the euphemism of marriage. The word marriage is

synonymous with the word marriage. Likewise, in

sentence (11), marriage is considered more refined

than marriage because it refers to people. The word

mating or mating is usually used for animals during

reproduction, so this word is considered impolite and

taboo because animals often use it.

3.1.7 Forms of Part for Whole Euphemisms

Words, phrases, clauses, and sentences can be

considered part of whole euphemisms if the form is

the form of a special word into a more general word.

 He sat quietly in the courtroom's prison chair as

the public prosecutor presented evidence of a

baseball bat, school uniform, and bloodstained

shoes. (SI, 2017, p. 75)

In sentence (13), the phrase prison chair is chosen

as the euphemism for the defendant's chair. The

phrase prison chair is especially for people accused

in court or people subject to punishment. The phrase

prisoner's chair is a word that is commonly used by

the community because it is considered more refined

than the defendant's seat.

 However, what can fight metabolism? Is there

anything that can stop the stomach's rumbling

when the intestines are no longer strong enough to

hold the dirt lining up? (QI, 2017, p. 79)

In sentence (14), the word dung is chosen as the

euphemism for dung. Based on the context, the

sentence describes a state of the stomach that is not

well and cannot hold back excretion. The dirt in

question is feces. However, the word dung is a word

that is more commonly used as a smoothing

expression than the word dung. The use of the form

part for whole euphemisms is in line with the meaning

of euphemism, namely the removal of bodily waste

by replacing feces with excrement.

3.1.8 Forms of Hyperbole Euphemism

Words, phrases, clauses, and sentences can be a form

of hyperbole euphemism if the form exaggerates and

exaggerates the statement. That is, the form of

hyperbole euphemism is a form whose expression

softens a word by using an exaggerated expression.

 After that, Nayla forgot. He is too young to digest

it. Nevertheless, after he meets someone in middle

school, someone who always makes butterflies

fly in his stomach, someone who spreads rainbow

colors in every step, and someone who does not

always create darkness like her parents, Nayla is

also intoxicated with first love. (SM, 2017, p. 53)

In sentence (15), the clause of butterflies fluttering

in his stomach is chosen as a euphemism for laughing

out loud. This form of euphemism in the form of

hyperbole is considered excessive because it

expresses things that are impossible to happen.

However, using hyperbolic clauses is considered

more euphemistic so that the speech does not seem

frontal, so the butterfly flying in the stomach clause is

more pleasant to hear than the laughing-out-loud

phrase.

 Experiencing all such humiliation is not

necessarily surprising. Nayla is full of eating

experiences. (SM, 2017, p. 55)

In sentence (16), the phrase satiety eating

experience is chosen as a euphemism for many life

experiences. The author exaggerates his story in this

sentence as if the experience is edible. However, the

expression is considered euphemistic, so the author

softens the expression using hyperbole.

Euphemism in SAiA Short Stories by Djenar Maesa Ayu as a Model for Establishing Language Politeness in Indonesian Language

Learning: Corpus Linguistic Studies

3.2 Utilization of Euphemism Forms in

a Collection of Short Stories as a

Model for Establishing Language

Politeness in Learning Indonesian

in Junior High School

In understanding learning, there are teaching and

learning activities. The activity shows interaction

involving teachers and students. In learning

interactions, students must actively practice good

communication skills so that students understand that

the material provided by the teacher is visible.

Therefore, students need to use good and correct

language without ignoring politeness. Due to the

characteristics of students, especially in junior high

schools, they tend to imitate what is heard due to

limited vocabulary, so in this case the teacher as an

educator must be careful in choosing words or

expressions in the learning process. In responding to

this, the teacher can use euphemisms in manipulating

words or expressions considered rude to form

politeness in students' language.

The use of the study of euphemistic forms in the

collection of SAiA short stories by Djenar Maesa Ayu

as learning can be represented through learning

Indonesian in the 2013 Curriculum, discussion text

material with KI and KD as follows.

(1) KI. 4. Demonstrate the skills of reasoning,

processing, and presenting creatively,

productively, critically, independently,

collaboratively, and communicatively in the

concrete and abstract domains following what is

learned at school and other sources from the same

theoretical point of view.

(2) KD. 3.10. Examine the opinions and arguments

for and against the discussion text related to the

problems read and heard.

KD. 4.10. Present ideas/opinions, arguments

for and against, and solutions to actual problems

in discussion texts by paying attention to the

structure and aspects of language and oral aspects

(intonation, gestures, pronunciation).

Through the analysis of euphemisms in this study,

the collection of SAiA short stories by Djenar Maesa

Ayu was taken and used as a form of skill

improvement through the analysis of the short stories

presented to form a more critical mindset in students.

Euphemism is important to convey in KD discussion

text because, in learning, there is a presentation or

delivery of ideas/opinions that require skills in

choosing the right words or expressions so that in

conveying ideas, it does not offend other parties. That

is because arguments support and contra related to the

issues discussed in the discussion text learning. The

existence of euphemisms can show how students

express whether students agree or disagree with

actual problems with good and polite words or

expressions. Therefore, the study of the form of

euphemism in this study can be used as an example

for students to understand meaning as well as being

realized in communication activities so that

politeness can be formed in language, considering

that euphemism is a form of refinement of polite

words so as not to offend other parties.

4 CONCLUSIONS

Euphemism refers to the refinement of words

considered rude, impolite, and taboo so that the

listener or speech partner is not offended. The author

uses euphemisms in the collection of short stories

SAiA by Djenar Maesa Ayu to avoid words or

expressions that have negative feelings. Based on the

results of the research shows that there are eight forms

of euphemism in Djenar Maesa Ayu's SAiA short

story collection, namely (a) figurative expressions

with a percentage of 2.9%, (b) metaphors with a

percentage of 8.8%, (c) flippancy with a percentage

of 1, 4%, (d) circumlocutions with a percentage of

7.3%, (e) abbreviations with a percentage of 1.4%, (f)

one for one substation with a percentage of 72.4%, (g)

part for whole euphemisms with a percentage of 4,

4%, and (h) hyperbole with a percentage of 1.4%. The

euphemisms in Djenar Maesa Ayu's collection of

short stories SAiA can be used as a model in learning

Indonesian in grade IX Junior High Schools regarding

basic competency 3.10 and 4.10 regarding discussion

texts to serve as examples. Besides being able to be

used as a model, the euphemisms in Djenar Maesa

Ayu's collection of SAiA short stories can help shape

students' characters to communicate more politely.

The results of the findings assisted by corpus

linguistics in the form of KORTARA are expected to

be a reference for other linguistic researchers, so that

they can take advantage of developing technology in

research. Through this research, it is also hoped that

other researchers can examine euphemisms in

different objects to maximize them as a reference.

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