FORENSIC LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF INSULTING SPEECH CASES AND ALLEGATIONS OF RELIGIOUS COERCION

Abstract

ABSTRACT

This study analyzes the forms of utterances that indicate the elements of insults and accusations of religious coercion found in the Police Interrogation Report (BAP).  Data sources were obtained from Bugis language utterances in the BAP that had been made by the investigator and were suspected of containing expressions of insults and accusations against certain religious communities. The data collection technique was conducted by observing the texts in the BAP with note-taking technique. The data were analyzed using a forensic linguistics perspective with the help of syntactic tools to explore lexical choices along with the Bugis socio-cultural context. The results of the analysis indicated that several lexical items were found that have the meaning of insulting the Tolotang religion, which is one of the religions adhered to by a small part of the Sidrap district community in South Sulawesi. The utterances found in the form of insulting utterances that can trigger individual and racial conflicts, for example the utterance “Tolotang asu, babi”. Other utterances contain accusations of religious coercion, which further strengthens the defamation aspect of both personal and religious groups. The utterances found reflected high negative emotions that could potentially violate the ITE Law because they were also delivered on Facebook. This research is expected to give educational contribution on the importance of linguistic intelligence in conveying expressions of annoyance and displeasure towards certain individuals or religious communities.