Greeting in Baduy Dalam Community: A Sociolinguistics Study of
Politeness
Tri Pujiati, Retty Isnendes and Eri Kurniawan
Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Jl. Dr. Setiabudi No.229, Bandung, Indonesia
Keywords: Greeting, Baduy Dalam Community, Culture, Politeness, and Sociolinguistic.
Abstract: Communities who live in this world have their own norm and culture to show their identity which makes them
different to others. One of the communities which still use original culture in Indonesia is Baduy Dalam
Community who lives in Banten, Indonesia. This research is conducted in order to know the deep information
about the greeting language which is used by them. Method which is applied in this study is descriptive
qualitative by using sociolinguistics approach. The results showed that (1) the usual greeting used as ‘salam’
for BDC has the function to show familiarity and politeness among other. Salam that is used for greeting BDC
who have close relationship like Tabe’ pun ka girang? which means excuse in language use or by saying
‘Maap bae’ ka Bapa’? for greeting the people outside BDC; (2) greetings based on kinship relationships using
the term kinship, for example ayah, ambu, amang; and the non-kinship greetings used are mang, pak, teteh.
The finding of this study gives the implication about the using of politeness language especially on greeting
used by BDC which has different ways with other society because BDC has its own norms and cultures that
should be obeyed by them.
1 INTRODUCTION
Language behavior does not escape the socio-cultural
factors found in the speech community of language
users, as well as the language phenomenon used by
people who live in Baduy, Banten Province. Baduy
Dalam Community is one of indigenous community
that still sustainable in Indonesia. The language used
in everyday communication is Sundanese. The use of
Sundanese found in indigenous peoples is inseparable
from the language politeness used by Baduy people.
Language politeness in communicating is influenced
by socio-cultural context and norms that apply to the
society. Hymes (1972) explains that the interaction of
language with social life is seen as the main reason of
human action, based on knowledge, consciously or
not that allows one to speak. One's language skills are
rated as inclusion of a series of interaction systems at
different coverage levels.
In daily communication, people in BDC try to
greet someone as a form of respect and politeness
strategy to other people. Leech (1983) views
politeness as conflict avoidance and considers two,
relative (situation oriented) and absolute politeness
(speaker oriented). Watt (2003) defined politeness as
the ability to please others through external actions.
Foley (1997) referred to politeness as “a battery of
social skills whose goal is to ensure that everyone
feels affirmed in a social interaction”. Brown and
Levinson (1987) placed politeness strategies in five
categories that speakers choose in performing face
threatening acts (FTAs): bald-on-record, positive
politeness, negative politeness, off-record, and no
FTA that the risk of face loss grows the further down.
Some sociopragmatics scholars have pointed out
the importance of the use of politeness markers in
language, especially in the use of the word greeting
because based on etiquette can also serve to recite the
utterance. In sociolinguistics studies, the greeting is
one form of linguistic marker that is very influential
on the use of language, especially in terms of the use
of greeting used by women and men, Agus (2014).
Chaer (2010) says that the word greeting is the word
used to greet, admonishes the person who is invited
to speak. According to Soegono et al. in Agus (2014),
the greeting is an invitation to speak; reprimand;
speech.
Related to the theories above, there are some
previous studies about politeness, especially the use
of greeting in daily communication or conversation.
The study by Jibreen (2010) indicates that greeting is
one type of expressive speech act that reflects the
386
Pujiati, T., Isnendes, R. and Kurniawan, E.
Greeting in Baduy Dalam Community: A Sociolinguistics Study of Politeness.
In Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Sociology Education (ICSE 2017) - Volume 2, pages 386-390
ISBN: 978-989-758-316-2
Copyright © 2018 by SCITEPRESS – Science and Technology Publications, Lda. All rights reserved

psychological state of the speaker specified in the
propositional content. Moreover, Agus (2014) shows
that greeting is one form of linguistic marker serves
as a marker of the power of an illusion or an
interpreter of language politeness. In different ways,
Dowlatabadi et al. (2014) focus on the socio-cultural
aspects of conversation, the present study focuses on
politeness strategies in conversation exchanges in the
Council for dispute settlement in Esfahan, Iran.
Meanwhile, Ryabova (2015) focused on the culture
of contemporaneity presents itself through various
concepts and discourses that constitute the category
of everyday life, which they reveal and portray.
The study of politeness on media social has been
conducted by the following researchers. Mu (2015)
focused on politeness which is reflected in languages.
He used movie review as object. Movie review is a
typical form of writing that reflects people’s
application of politeness strategies consciously or
unconsciously. Hameed (2010) focused on the impact
of gender on the linguistic politeness, especially acts
threatening the interlocutor's face (FTAs) such as
requests, offers, orders. Eshghinejad and Moini
(2016) discussed about one aspect of short message
service (SMS) communication through a cell phone is
use of politeness strategies.
Based on empiric fact on the previous study, this
research tries to fill out the gap of the research. The
previous study discusses about the politeness strategy
use on social media as object and daily
communication. This research tries to analyze the
politeness strategy on communication used by Baduy
Dalam Community (BDC). It is very urgent to know
the greeting used by Baduy Society in everyday
communication.
2 METHODS
This research uses qualitative approach because in
this research produce descriptive data in the form of
written words or oral from people or behavior that can
be observed. This study focuses on the use of
greetings in the family and social of Baduy Dalam
Community.
The data used in this study is data in the form of
greeting used by the public in Baduy Dalam
community located in Leuwidamar, Ciboleger
village, Lebak Banten. This research data is obtained
directly from the field by observing the conversations
used by Baduy community during the process of
greeting in communication activities. Data source in
this research is divided into two, primary data source
and secondary data source. Source of primary data in
this research is Baduy society. The secondary data
sources in this study are books, internet, or reference
material that can provide information related to this
research.
Work methods applied in the research, first of all
recording the speech of Baduy community in the
realm of the family and social. Further, classify and
determine the form of greeting used in the speech.
Then make an analysis of the language politeness
used in the speech greeting. Finally, the researcher
makes the interpretation of the purpose of the use of
speech.
3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The use of greetings in Baduy community can be seen
based on the term kinship which followed the name
of self and some are not followed by the name of self.
The greeting used during meetings between people
who live in Baduy also varies depending on the
context.
3.1 Language Politenes in Greetings
Salam for Baduy Dalam
Community
Baduy people have different ways when meeting with
partners on the street or in public places. The greeting
is commonly used as a form of familiarity and
language politeness used. Below is the expression use
by BDC when meet the others who have the relation
to the speaker:
Tabe ́ pun ka girang?
The greeting is commonly used when a person
meets a familiar people and has a close relationship
with the speaker. The greeting, such as the expression
of Tabe ́ pun ka girang?, which means as excuse in
English language. It is usually used by BDC in
greeting his or her part. The expression of greeting
such as above example, it has the same function as the
expression of permission in Indonesian language.
Based on the politeness study, it shows the politeness
related to the norm which is used by BDC.
In greeting to other people from outside BDC and
who don’t have a close relationship, there is one
expression that can be used to show the politeness of
language in the form of greetings. Below is the
expression that is usually used by BDC as the
following:
Maap bae ́ ka Bapa’?
Greeting in Baduy Dalam Community: A Sociolinguistics Study of Politeness
387

From the greeting above, it can be seen that the
expression like Maap bae ́ ka Bapa’? is used to greet
someone from outside BDC. This expression same as
the use of excuse in language use. This is one of the
strategies in language politeness to other people. The
using of that expression is also used to greet and
respect to the person who has certain positions in
government.
3.2 Language Politeness in Greetings
Based on Kinship and Non Kinship
Relations for Baduy Dalam
Community
Families are people who are in a good family
environment with a direct relationship or indirect
linkage. In the life of the Baduy community, there are
several greetings based on kinship relationships.
3.2.1 Language Politeness in Greetings
Based on Blood Relation for Baduy
Dalam Community
There are some ways in greeting based on kinship
relationship. The following table 1 shows the
research findings and discussion related to the usual
greeting form used to address or call on the basis of
blood or heredity. The word greeting is used in
everyday situations or at certain ceremonies.
Table 1: The Form of Greeting Based on Blood Relations
at Baduy Society.
Numb.
Family
Greeting
Analysis
1
Great-
grandfather
or great-
grandmother
Uyut
For BDC, there is usual
norm should be used by
them in greeting the
people from their society
who have blood relation.
The usual greeting to greet
father of our great-
grandfather or great-
grandmother in Baduy
society is “Uyut”.
2
Grandfather
Aki or Ki’
To show the politeness
language in greeting
grandfather, BDC just use
“Aki or Ki’”.
3
Grandmothe
r
Nini or
Ni’
The greeting word used by
BDC as the language
politeness to greet the
parents of women from
our parents is ‘Nini or Ni’.
4
Father
Ayah
The greeting word used by
BDC to greet male parents
by using kinship terms,
such as “ayah”.
5
Mother
Ambu
The greeting word used by
BDC to greet female
parents by using kinship
terms “ambu” as a form of
respect for a child to her
mother.
6
Younger
Brother
Adi laki-
laki
The greeting word used by
BDC to greet younger
brothers by using kinship
terms as “adi laki-laki”.
7
Younger
Sister
Adi
perempan
The greeting word used by
BDC to greet Baduy's
sister is “adi perempuan”.
8
Older
Brother
Aa’
The greeting word used by
BDC to greet the older
brother is (aa’).
9
Older Sister
Teteh
The greeting word used by
BDC to greet the older
sister is “teteh”.
10
Uncle
(An old
brother from
our mother
or father)
Uwa or
wa’
In greeting elder brother of
the father in the Baduy
community, BDC use the
word greeting “Uwa or
Wa’” based on the term
kinship.
11
Aunt (An
old sister
from our
mother or
father)
Bibi or
ibi’
To greet the younger sister
of the father or the mother
of the speaker, can use
“bibi or ibi or ibi”.
12
Uncle (A
little brother
from our
mother or
father)
Mang or
mamang
The greeting that can be
given to the younger
brother of our parents is
“mang or mamang”.
13
Aunt
(A little
sister from
our mother
or father)
Bibi or
ibi’
To greet the younger sister
of the father or the mother
of the speaker, can use the
word greeting based on
kinship term that is with
“bibi or ibi”.
14
Son
Ac

ng
To greet of parents to boys
in the Baduy community is
“aceng”.
15
Daughter
Enok or
nok
To greet of parents to girls
in Baduy society is “enok
or nok”.
16
Grandson
Incu
The word greeting used by
a grandfather to a
grandson is “incu”
17
Grand
daughter
Incu
The word greeting used by
a grandfather to
granddaughter is to use the
word greeting “incu”.
From the table above, it can be concluded that the
Baduy Dalam Community has their own word in
greeting someone who has the blood relationship. The
purpose of the using of greeting is to show the respect
to BDC who have the blood relationship by using
kinship term without name for greeting someone.
3.2.2 Language Politeness in Greetings
Based on Marriage Relations for
Baduy Dalam Community
The greeting form based on the marital relationship in
Baduy society shows how to greet other people who
have a marriage relationship. The relationship of
marriage is a kinship that a person acquires through
marriage bonds. The call or greeting used by the
ICSE 2017 - 2nd International Conference on Sociology Education
388

Baduy community in greeting that has a marriage
bond based on the age of the speaker, the sex, and the
purpose of the use of the greeting itself. The
following table 2 shows the greetings based on the
marriage relationship:
Table 2: The Form of Greeting Based on Marriage
Relations at Baduy Society.
Numb.
The Use of
Greeting
Form of
Greeting
Analysis
1
Husband
Salaki or
ayah-ayah
Greeting as a form of respect
and familiarity given by a wife
to the husband in BDC is
“Salaki” or “ayah-ayah”. So, it
is one of the politeness
language when a wife calls her
husband by saying “Salaki” or
“ayah-ayah” without the name.
2
Wife
Batur
saimah or
ambu-
ambu
Based on a marriage bond, a
man will call his wife as the
name “batur saimah” or
“ambu-ambu”. The using of
this greeting to give a respect to
his wife. We just call it without
name.
3
Mother-in-
law
Ambu
mitoha
To greet the women-in-law
based on the marriage bond,
BDC uses the kinship terms
“ambu mitoha”. The using of
this greeting to give a respect to
mother-in-law. We just call it
without name.
4
Father-in-
law
Ayah
mitoha
To greet the male-in-law based
on the marriage bonds, BDC
use “ayah mitoha”. The using
of this greeting to give a
respect to father-in-law. We
just call it without name.
5
Son-in-law
or
daughter-
in-law
Anak
Minantu
Calls given to the daughters-in-
law, both men and women with
the words of greeting “anak
minantu”. The using of this
greeting to give a respect to
son-in-law or brother-in-law.
We just call it without name.
6
Cousin
Misan
The greeting given for greeting
a cousin in BDC is “misan”.
The using of this greeting to
give a respect to cousin. We
just call it without name.
7
Nephew
Alo
The greeting given to nephews
in BDC is “alo”. The using of
this greeting to give a respect to
nephew. We just call it without
name.
3.2.3 Language Politeness in Greetings
Based on Non-Kinship Relationships
for Baduy Dalam Community
Greetings are not only intended for people who have
a kinship, but also to the partner who does not have a
kinship relationship. The following table 3 will
explain the form of greeting based on the term of non-
kinship commonly used in speech acts greeted by the
people of Baduy Dalam Community.
Table 3: The form of Greetings Based on Non-Kinship
Relationships.
Numb.
The Use of
Greeting
Form of
Greeting
Analysis
1
Greetings
to older
men
Mang
A greeting given to a man older
than a speaker with non-
kinship relationship is “mang”.
So, when BDC meet the older
men people who don’t have
relation, they will use “mang”
to respect them.
2
Greetings
to older
women
Bibi’
When BDC meet the older
women who don’t have
relationship, they will use
“bibi” as the form of respect to
them.
3
Greetings
to men of
the same
age
Aka’ or
Aa’
As a manifestation of intimacy
to men who have the same age
as speakers and do not have a
kinship relationship, BDC use
“aka’ or Aa’” for greeting
them.
4
Greetings
to women
of the same
age
Aka’ or
T

t

h
To show respect to women
who have the same age to the
speaker, BDC usually call
them by “aka’ or teteh’”. It is
one of the language politeness
used by BDC in greeting the
women from the same age.
5
Greetings
to
unknown
men
Mamang
The greeting word used by the
BDC to unknown men is
“mamang”. It is one of the
language politeness used by
BDC in greeting unknown
man.
6
Greetings
to
unknown
women
Bibi’ or
Tt

h
The greeting word used by
Baduy people to women who
have not been known is “bibi’
or t

t

h”. It is one of the
language politeness used by
BDC in greeting unknown
women.
7
Greetings
to the
profession,
for
example, A
teacher
Pak or Pak
Guru
Greetings to men who have a
profession, for example
greeting to a teacher, Baduy
Society can call by using pak
guru, without being followed
by name.
8
Greetings
to the
profession,
for
example
midwife
Bu’ or Ibu
Bidan
Greetings to women who have
a profession, for example
midwife, can use ‘bu bidan’,
without being followed by
name.
9
Greetings
to office,
such as Mr.
Governor
Bapa
Ged

Greetings to men who have
positions, such as the
governor's pack, can call by
Bapa Ged

, without being
followed by name.
10
A greeting
to the
village
head in
Baduy
Jaro
Greetings to men who have a
position as village head in
Baduy can be greeted with
‘jaro’ without being followed
by name.
11
A greeting
to the
customary
chief in
Baduy
Puun
Greetings to men who have a
position as chief of customs in
Baduy is ‘puun’ without being
followed by name.
Greeting in Baduy Dalam Community: A Sociolinguistics Study of Politeness
389

4 CONCLUSIONS
Based on the explanation above, it can be concluded
that Baduy Dalam Community has its own culture in
greeting the people from BDC and also outside from
them. The greeting which is used by them is different
with the usual of greeting in Indonesia. They have a
manner of speech that is polite and unique
characteristics and different from other language
users. The greeting can be identity for BDC as the
politeness strategy in using language. Language
politeness and greeting of BDC has been derived
from the descend order of the ancestors of the Baduy
people. The implication of the research is we have to
know that every society has its own culture in
greeting other people. So, we have to understand the
using of greeting based on language that is used by
Baduy Dalam Community.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This study is the result of the research in culture of
linguistics. Therefore, the researcher would like to
express her sincere gratitude to all of the lecturers at
Doctoral Program of Linguistics UPI Bandung. The
writer would like to say special gratitude to her
lecturer Mr. Eri Kurniawan and Ms. Retty Isnendes.
Thank you so much for the guidance in completing
this research and also the sharing for analyzing data.
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