1 CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
1.1Background of the Study
Humans are part of social environment. They need to interact, to
communicate and to express their ideas to the others, one of the ways to interact with
each other is through communication. Communication will run well with the use of
language. They need language as a tool to do all the things. Language is a systematic
way of combining smaller units for the purpose of communication. Language also is
not only about talking, but also writing is also part of language. So, when people
write and talk, they use language. It is worthwhile, we believe, because it is such an
important part of all our lives. How an individual uses the systems available to them
varies according to who speaker is, how they perceive themselves, and what identity
they want to project. Nababan (1986 : 10) says “to communicate is to deliver
message and meaning from one person to other by using language”.
Language has two major functions, they are interactional function and
transactional function. Interactional function deals with how humans use language to
interact each other socially or emotionally. Transactional function deals with
whereby humans use their linguistics abilities to communicate knowledge, skills and
information (Yule, 1985 : 5-6). Nowadays, there are so many experts who study
about language that called linguistics.
Language use are varies according to the situation, whether it’s public or
private, formal or informal, who is being addressed, and who might be able to
overhear. William Labov (1972 : 179) states that a speech community cannot be
2 group who share the same norms in regard to language… who share a set of social
attitude toward language. Another important dimension of language is the very
different attitudes, language changes, language plans, and also language use.
Language choice purposes us to use language all the time. Our language
choice can also be a reflection of the social groups we associate particular words or
kinds of linguistics behavior. The notion of language choice becomes vital in
understanding the concept of a speech community. Language choice needs to be
applied when we want to talk to each other, with awareness of language choice we
can talk more polite in a conversation. As a student of University, awareness on the
language choice needs to be applied in each of our conversation especially to
lecturer, parents, and each other as well. Awareness of language choice supports us
to give a good presentation, increasing competence and a good performance in our
environment.
There are some cases that happen in the society about language attitude,
especially for students as the future generation. One of them is found in Resimen
Mahasiswa of University of Sumatera Utara (USU). For example, the members use a
language when they want talk with each member in Resimen Mahasiswa of
University of Sumatera Utara environment especially with commandant. So that, in
speaking language choice in polite language is needed to make others can accept the
statements well and make it be a language characteristic of the Resimen Mahasiswa it
self. So, the role of language choice is important to know to send the message of
communication. It is why in the Resimen Mahasiswa training not just learning about
the military zone, leadership, but also learning about the ability to speaking in formal
3 meaning, using the polite word or the norm for speaking will support us to be a good
person.
In Resimen Mahasiswa of University of Sumatera Utara are required to be
able to speak the language properly in the military. For example: "yes (siap), permits
(izin)", and shall be respectful amongst members, also with commandant. The
requirement to be able to know and to apply the words in Resimen Mahasiswa,
requires all senior and junior members to be able to apply it in daily communication,
whether it is in Resimen Mahasiswa or in the campus life. The study of languages
choice in Resimen Mahasiswa itself can be obtained in daily communication in the
Resimen Mahasiswa. There is no training or material that are specifically given to the
members, especially the new members. They can hear the communication which
occurs directly between their seniors in direct communication, members to
commandant, and also commandant to members. Thus, with the direct
communication which happens, make the members of Resimen Mahasiswa become
able to determine the language that should be applied.
This analysis will focus on the Resimen Mahasiswa members which are
going to be observed related to the title of this analysis. The office is located at Jalan
Universitas No.24, Medan. This group is full of the people who to want learn about
the leadership, and the language attitude. MENWA stands for Resimen Mahasiswa. It
is an organization for leadership, discipline, a little part of army, and the awareness
of language in USU. The members of MENWA come from every faculties or even
departments in USU such as Medical Faculty, Law Faculty, Nursing Faculty, Public
4 Engineering Faculty, Economics Faculty, Social and Political Sciences Faculty, and
Cultural Studies Faculty.
Last but not least, the main point of this analysis emphasizes on how the
Resimen Mahasiswa training itself is. It will give the beneficial impact on increasing
the language choice of the members of Resimen Mahasiswa in delivering their own
opinion and doing their daily activities especially in campus life as the first step to
get the better future in social life.
1.2Problem of The Study
Language choice is something that will give a big contribution in social life.
In most crucial human activities, success depends on knowledge, skill, and
self-confidence. There are some characteristics, which form the basis of effective speech.
Without the knowledge, the speeches become empty or even not succeed.
Considering to these opinion, the writer sees some problems that appeared in the
students of University of Sumatera Utara, especially the members of Resimen
Mahasiswa. There are the problems that have been found by the writer :
1. How is the language choice between commandant to members, members to
commandant, and members to members of Resimen Mahasiswa of University
of Sumatera Utara in daily communication?
2. What are the effects of joining Resimen Mahasiswa towards members in
language choice?
1.3Objective of the Study
In consonance with the problem above, this analysis tries to find out the
5
1. To describe the language choice between commandant to member, member
to commandant, and member to member of Resimen Mahasiswa of
University of Sumatera Utara.
2. To describe how the Resimen Mahasiswa of University of Sumatera Utara
helps the students in developing language choice after joining in Resimen
Mahasiswa.
1.4Scope of the Study
It is important to make a scope in this study in order to make a clear
explanation about the topic. The scope that the writer has analyzed about the
increasing and awareness of language choice by the members of Resimen Mahasiswa
of University of Sumatera Utara, Medan.
Based on that point, this study focuses on Resimen Mahasiswa of University
of Sumatera Utara on language choice that has been shown from the way they
speaking, thinking, and delivery their argument in polite language when they want to
talk, and the others can accept it well.
1.5Significance of the Study
The significance of this research are as follow:
1. As a reference for people who interested to research about language choice in
Resimen Mahasiswa of University of Sumatera Utara.
2. To help people who are interested in analyzing or observing about language
choice of Resimen Mahasiswa in University of Sumatera Utara
3. To help the readers in understanding the differential and the changes after
6 especially the members of Resimen Mahasiswa at University of Sumatera
