INFLUENTIAL SOCIAL FACTORS ON BATRATA AND AIK ARA RESIDENT LINGUISTIC VARIATION CHOICE

Abstract

Sasak language has five different dialects named for shibboleth terms for ‘like that-like this’; Meriaq-
Meriku, Meno-Mene, Ngeno-Ngene, Nggeto-Nggete, and Kuto-Kute. The exciting phenomenon among the
Sasak speakers is that we notice variations in two neighbouring sub-villages, Batrata and Aik Ara, within
a village called Ubung village. Hence, this study examines the variation in Batrata and Aik Ara sub-villages,
particularly in the lexical aspect. Also, to find out the social factors that influence the linguistic choice of
the people. The method used by this research is qualitative descriptive. The data on lexical variation was
analyzed based on the theory of Singleton (2016), and categorised the lexical according to Austin (2013)
while the data on social factors was analyzed based on Holmes (2013). The study finds 31 lexical variations
between Batrata dan Aik Ara, including six types of words; verbs (4 terms), nouns (10 terms), adjectives
(10 terms), auxiliary particle (1 term), adverbs (2 terms) and pronouns (4 terms). From the collected
variations, Batrata people could be associated with Meriaq-Meriku speakers. Meanwhile, Aik Ara people
could be classified as part of Meno-Mene speakers. In addition, from the four factors proposed by Holmes
(2013), participant, topic, and function factors have an impact towards the linguistic choice of both
residents. They tend to use the dialect of the majority of participants involved in the conversation. However,
the topic and function only trigger them to switch from the Sasak language to the Indonesian language, not
the dialect, when talking about serious, social, or national issues.