MAKALAH

LANGUAGE AND SOCIETY

DISUSUN OLEH
NAME

CLASS :

NIM

1. I KOMANG BAGUS

100250302074

2. KADIR

100250302020

3. MEXI DARWIN

100250302021

4. IRDA

100250302005

5. HARMAH

100250302014

ENGLISH TRAINING AND EDUCATION FACULTY

UNIVERSITAS TOMAKAKA OF MAMUJU
IN ACADEMIC YEAR 2012/2013

PREFACE
Assalamualaikum. Wr. Wb.
All praise be to Allah SWT who has been giving us the mercy and blessing, so we
always in Allah guidance. Shalawat with salam we send to our big prophet Muhammad
SAW and his relatives, with says Allah humma salliala saiyidina Muhammad waala
saiyida Muhammad, so we can do our duties and responsibilities well.
After making a great effort, the writers finally completed this research paper with
title Language and Society . However, we realize that there are still many shortcomings
in this paper. Therefore w enthusiastically welcome the objective criticism and
constructive suggestion for the improvement of this paper.
Finally, the writers hope that this paper will be useful not only for the writers but also
for the readers.

Mamuju, 17 November 2012

Writers

TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
A. BACKGROUND
B. THEOLOGICAL PROBLEM
CHAPTER II EXPLANATION
A. WHAT IS LANGUAGE ?
B. WHAT IS CULTURE ?
C. HOW IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LANGUAGE AND
CULTURE ?
CHAPTER III CLOSING
A.

CONCLUSION

B.
REFERENCES

SUGGESTION

Language and society

Language is the human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of
communication, and a language is any example of such a system of complex
communication.
According Keraf in Smarapradhipa (2005:1), providing two language understanding.
The first notion of language as stated means of communication between members of the
public in the form of a symbol of the sound produced by means of said human. Second,
language is a communication system that uses symbols vocal (speech sound) which are
arbitrary.
According to Owen in Syarif Hidayatullah, 2009, language can be defined as a
socially shared combinations of those symbol and rule governed combinations of those
symbols
Another case in Stiawan according to Owen (2006:1), describes the language
definition language can be defined as a socially shared Those combinations of symbols
and rule governed Those combinations of symbols (language can be defined as a socially
acceptable code or conventional system for delivering concepts through the use of
symbols and combinations of the desired symbols are governed by the provisions).
The opinions above are similar to what was expressed by Tarin (1989:4), he gives
two definitions of the language. First, language is a system that systematically, perhaps
also for generative systems. Second, language is a set of symbols as you like it or
arbitrary symbols.
According to Santoso (1990:1), language is a series of sound produced by said means
of a conscious human being. Another definition, language is a form and not a state
(language may be the form and not matter) or something that sounds arbitrary symbol
system, or also a system of many systems, a system of an order or an order in the systemthe system. The expression proposed by Mackey (1986:12).
According Wibowo (2001:3), language is a system of symbols that are meaningful
and articulate sound (generated by said tool) which are arbitrary and conventional, which
is used as a means of communicating by a group of human beings to give birth to feelings
and thoughts.

Almost similar to the opinion Wibowo, Walija (1996:4), disclose the definition
language of communication is the most complete and effective way to convey ideas,
messages, intentions, feelings and opinions to others.
Other opinions about the definition of language expressed by Shamsuddin (1986:2),
he gave two language understanding. First, language is a tool used to shape the mind and
feelings, desires and deeds, a tool used to influence and be influenced. Second, language
is a clear sign of a good personality or bad, a clear sign of the family and the nation, a
clear sign from the mind of humanity.
While Pengabean (1981:5), argues that language is a system of express and report
what happens on the nervous system.
Recent opinion of this short paper about the language expressed by Soejono
(1983:01), language is a means of spiritual communication is very important in life
together.
As with the Wikipedia, which is almost the same on the definition of language that
has been presented to the experts. And the following languages definition according to
Wikipedia.
1. a system to represent objects, actions, ideas and circumstances.
2. an apparatus which is used to convey their real concept into the minds of
others
3. a unified system of meaning
4. a code that is used by a linguistic expert to distinguish between form and
meaning.
5. deliver a speech grammar that have been established (eg, words, sentences,
and others.)
6. a speech system that will be understood by the linguistic community....
A society, or a human society, is a group of people related to each other through
persistent relations, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or virtual
territory, subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LANGUAGE AND SOCIETY

What features of society affect language? How do they do so?
Any important aspect of social structure and function is likely to have a distinctive
linguistic counterpart. People belong to different social classes, perform different social
rles, and carry on different occupations ( 1995; David Crystal: CEEL; p.3 )
Language performance (and competence) is likely to be affected by any or all of
these:
Aspects of social organization

Gender

Social class

Peer group

Age

Health or disability/body image

Ethnic group (may be link to

Occupation (trades, law, politics, news

regional variation)
media, journalism, broadcasting)

Sexuality

Social context - factors which may influence use or response

Beliefs and attitudes (science,

religion, morality)

Notions of propriety

Political Correctness

Fashions in language use

Education

of

speaker/writer

and

audience

Social situation (work vs. leisure;

degree of [in]formality)

Intention or purpose

Stereotyping

Note that:

Most (or all) of these affect real individuals in complex (multiple) ways.

The complex effect of these things is itself subject to change.

Restricted uses may become mainstream or standard (and vice versa).

The process is reciprocal: language use is both cause and effect of things in
society.

We need examples from each of these categories (of which most can be further
subdivided).

We

also

need

theoretical

models

or

explanations

of

these

examples.Explanations must refer to evidence (language data) from texts; they must also
show reason.
The connection between language and society is tightly anchored. The relationship of
the two is deeply rooted. Language performs various functions in the society and the
society does the same way. If one will not exist, the other one will be affected.
Language is the primary tool for communication purposes, for establishing peace and
order in our society, for showing authority and power, and for attaining goals and
objectives. But, it can also destruct the society if it will use inappropriately. It must
follow the conformity governing the society to avoid conflict s and to meet the boundary
of individual differences.
Society however controls our language by giving us preferences as what are
acceptable and not, because each one of us has our own perception or point of view. A
group of people may accept our language, but for others, it could be kind of offence or
insult. We must know how, when and where to say it and for what purpose.
Social changes produce changes in language. This affects values in ways that have
not been accurately understood. Language incorporates social values. However, social
values are only the same as linguistic values when the society is a stable and unchanging
one. Once society starts changing, then language change produces special effects.
Some models to explain how language interacts with society:
Features of society affecting language use and response may be (more or less):

Static: e.g. ethnicity, gender, class background

Changing: e.g. education, age, social environment, attitudes and fashions

Situational/contextual: e.g. immediate social situation (workplace, home,

recreation, peer group, perceived formality of situation)

Language features which may be affected by social categories or contexts:

Variety used

Purposes

Prescriptivism - notion of "correct"

Meanings

(denotation

and

connotation)

spoken, written and grammatical

Language change

Notion

of

propriety/social

acceptability (PC and non-PC forms)

forms

Structural features of language necessary for modelling sociolinguistics:

Lexis
(special lexicons

Semantics

Etymology

(special

(related

meanings)

semantics)

Pragmatics
to (influence

Phonology
on

choice of lang)

or register)
Morphology
(derivational)

Grammar/syntax Discourse structure Rhetoric

(in special forms - (law,

Style
politics, (figures of

liturgy, trials)

advertising)

speech)