JAVANESE LANGUAGE MODALITY IN BLENCONG ARTICLES OF SUARA MERDEKA NEWSPAPER

Abstract

Many languages have modalities which are usually expressed through certain modal verbs. By analyzing the modal verbs, the varying degrees of commitment to or belief in a proposition can be explained. Javanese language also has such modal system. This paper examines the modality in Javanese language used in Blencong articles of Suara Merdeka newspaper. The articles contain opinions towards many issues from the view of Javanese people and Javanese wisdom. This paper is aimed to find out the modalities realized in modal verbs in Blencong articles and to describe the functions of such modal verbs. The data were collected from Blencong articles downloaded from the online version of Suara Merdeka newspaper. They were then analyzed by using translational (identity) method. The result shows that the writers of the articles use epistemic modality to show their certainty and uncertainty about any issue, deontic modality to show their attitude towards obligation, dynamic modality to express one‘s ability, and intentional modality to express the writers‘ wish, willingness, and hope. The modal verbs used are mesthi, pancen, mesthine, bakal, arep, kudu, kudune, dititahke, bisa, bisaa, mbokmenawa, and muga-muga.