Experiential Meaning in Spoken Speech in Javanese: A Study of Transitivity Based on Systemic Functional Linguistics
Authors
-
Sri Hertanti Wulan
Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta
-
Siti Mulyani
Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta
-
Herman Herman
Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36312/jolls.v6i2.4669Keywords:
Transitivity, Systemic functional linguistics, Javanese language, Experiential representation, Spoken utterancesAbstract
Spoken Javanese is a form of communication rich in cultural meaning, as it represents speakers’ social relationships, attitudes, and experiences in everyday interactions. In this context, the transitivity system in Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) is relevant for examining the representation of experiential meaning through language. This study aims to identify the types of processes in the transitivity system found in spoken Javanese utterances, analyze the distribution and dominance of the processes that occur, and interpret the tendencies in the representation of speakers’ experiences within the Javanese sociocultural context. This research employs a qualitative descriptive approach. The data consist of 134 spoken Javanese utterances obtained through observation and interviews in natural interactions. The analysis was conducted through data reduction, clause identification, process type classification, and meaning interpretation based on the sociocultural context. Since a single utterance may contain more than one clause, the number of processes identified exceeds the number of utterances. The findings reveal the occurrence of mental processes in 63 clauses, behavioral processes in 38 clauses, material processes in 17 clauses, relational processes in 13 clauses, verbal processes in 9 clauses, and existential processes in 6 clauses. Mental processes are the most dominant, particularly in the desiderative and cognitive subcategories, which represent speakers’ desires, considerations, and inner attitudes. These findings indicate that spoken Javanese tends to represent internal experiences and interpersonal negotiation more frequently than material actions. This study confirms that the transitivity system functions not only as a grammatical structure but also as a representation of experience that reflects the sociocultural orientation of its speakers.
Downloads
References
Alaei, M., & Ahangari, S. (2016). A study of ideational metafunction in Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness: A critical discourse analysis. English Language Teaching, 9(4), 203–214. https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v9n4p203
Assyuza, M. F., & Miftahulkhairah, A. (2021). Kajian linguistik fungsional sistemik: Analisis hubungan sistem transitivitas dan konteks situasi dalam pidato Presiden Jokowi soal penanganan virus Corona. Jurnal CULTURE (Culture, Language, and Literature Review), 8(1). https://doi.org/10.53873/culture.v8i1.237
Banks, D. (2002). Systemic functional linguistics as a model for text analysis. ASp, 35–36, 23–34. https://doi.org/10.4000/asp.1584
Bartley, L. V. (2018). Putting transitivity to the test: A review of the Sydney and Cardiff models. Functional Linguistics, 5(1), 4. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40554-018-0056-x
Brown, P. (2015). Politeness and language. In J. D. Wright (Ed.), International encyclopedia of the social & behavioral sciences (2nd ed., pp. 326–330). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-097086-8.53072-4
Duranti, A. (1997). Linguistic anthropology. Cambridge University Press.
Eggins, S. (2004). An introduction to systemic functional linguistics (2nd ed.). Continuum.
Fitri, N., Artawa, K., Satyawati, M. S., & Sawirman, S. (2021). Transitivitas dalam teks peradilan Indonesia: Kajian linguistik fungsional sistemik. Diglosia: Jurnal Kajian Bahasa, Sastra, dan Pengajarannya, 4(2), 139–148. https://doi.org/10.30872/diglosia.v4i2.116
Gumperz, J. J. (1982). Discourse strategies. Cambridge University Press.
Gwilliams, L., & Fontaine, L. (2015). Indeterminacy in process type classification. Functional Linguistics, 2(1), Article 8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40554-015-0021-x
Halliday, M. A. K. (1994). An introduction to functional grammar (2nd ed.). Edward Arnold.
Halliday, M. A. K., & Matthiessen, C. M. I. M. (2014). Halliday’s introduction to functional grammar (4th ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203431269
Heidari, L. (2014). Persuasive style and its realization through transitivity analysis: A SFL perspective. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 158, 179–186.
Hymes, D. (1974). Foundations in sociolinguistics: An ethnographic approach. Tavistock Publications.
Jiang, W. (2000). The relationship between culture and language. ELT Journal, 54(4), 328–334. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/54.4.328
Kashima, E., & Kashima, Y. (1998). Culture and language. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 29, 461–486. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022198293005
Mardiansjah, F. H. (2013). Urbanization and the development of Yogyakarta urban region. Journal of Regional and City Planning, 24(1), 35–52.
Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (1992). Analisis data kualitatif: Buku sumber tentang metode-metode baru. UI Press.
Narlianti, N. P. V. (2015). Transitivitas dalam teks perda kepariwisataan Kabupaten Tabanan. Journal of Language and Translation.
Nikander, P., & Vehviläinen, S. (2010). Discourse analysis. In B. Somekh & C. Lewin (Eds.), Research methods in the social sciences (pp. 121–131). Sage Publications.
O’Grady, G. (2019). SFL and critical discourse analysis. In D. Schönthal, G. Thompson, L. Fontaine, & W. L. Bowcher (Eds.), The Cambridge handbook of systemic functional linguistics (pp. 462–484). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316337936.020
Risager, K. (2006). Language and culture: Global flows and local complexity. Multilingual Matters.
Setia, E., Sinaga, E. B., & Sina, S. (2021). Transitivity analysis in the text of the 1945 Constitution before the amendment. International Journal of Educational Research & Social Sciences.
Silverman, D. (2000). Doing qualitative research: A practical handbook. Sage Publications.
Sukesti, R., & Wijana, I. D. P. (2013). Konstruksi tema-rema bahasa Jawa Banyumas lisan. Universitas Gadjah Mada.
Supadmi, N., Sudipa, I. N., Budiarsa, M., & Darma Laksana, I. K. (2020). Transitivity in the text of Indonesia President speech. The International Journal of Language and Cultural.
Thompson, G. (2013). Introducing functional grammar (3rd ed.). Routledge.
Tuckyta, E., Rahardi, H. R., & Heriyanto. (2020). Transitivity processes in Thunberg’s viral speech: A systemic functional linguistics study. ELS Journal on Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities, 3(4), 607–613.
Webster, J. J. (2019). Key terms in the SFL model. In D. Schönthal, G. Thompson, L. Fontaine, & W. L. Bowcher (Eds.), The Cambridge handbook of systemic functional linguistics (pp. 35–54). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316337936.004
Yan, H. (2014). Automatic labelling of transitivity functional roles. Journal of World Languages, 1(2), 157–170. https://doi.org/10.1080/21698252.2014.937563
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Sri Hertanti Wulan, Siti Mulyani, Herman Herman
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with JOLLS agree to the following terms:
- For all articles published in JOLLS, copyright is retained by the authors. Authors permit the publisher to announce the work with conditions. When the manuscript is accepted for publication, the authors agree to implement a non-exclusive transfer of publishing rights to the journals.
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
