Taboo in Angkola Language: Prohibited Communication among Family Kinships

Abstract

The research is the performance and participation in communication prohibited in Angkola society, which is then referred to as taboo language in family relations in a sociopragmatics framework. This research aims to find personal communication patterns prohibited in Angkola Language (AL), to find out performance, communication patterns, values and reasons for the prohibition so that there is an effort in cultural sustainability. Another aim is to re-awaken the younger generation applying values and norms in AL amidst current developments, and the era of communication freedom. Qualitative approach using ethnographic methods was carried out within the sociopragmatics framework. Participants involved in AL considered taboo in communication are: 1) The wife/husband of the in-laws; 2) Siblings, especially siblings of different gender; 3) Daughter-in-law to her son-in-law; 4) Son-in-law to his daughter-in-law; 5) In-laws (husband’s father and wife's mother); 6) The wife of our younger brother; and 7) Our aunt's daughter. The performance patterns carried out by the participants: 1) being silent, not answering; 2) using indirect sentences; 3) coding (clearing throat, small cough); 4) using simple, short words; 5) mediating of surround objects; 6) leaving the conversation location; 7) not joking; 8) tending to be serious; 9) giving good, polite answers; 10) avoiding jokes, teases, and long conversations; 11) using a third person intermediary; and 12) making small talk. Reasons of the waning language taboo culture is due to globalization, the widespread use of social medias, the openness of information in current modern era.