Commissive speech acts serve to state intention, make a promise, taken an oath and are important as the language of communication among people. They are useful to reduce misunderstanding as well as to reduce possibilities for conflict.
"Commissive speech acts provide clear information, especially those that are related to development, so that people do not misunderstand, and also be able to reduce conflict," said Drs. Paina, M. Hum., in an open examination of doctoral promotion at Faculty of Cultural Sciences at the Graduate School Seminar Room, UGM, Saturday (27/2).
In his dissertation abstract entitled Javanese Commissive Speech Acts: Socio-pragmatics Studies, Paina explained that Javanese commissive speech acts are marked by forms of words and context. His research showed that politeness is used as a basis of consideration for the selection of words or the context. "They can be used to determine the structure of interaction," said the lecturer at the Faculty of Literature and Arts, Sebelas Maret University of Surakarta.
Paina added that the use of commissive speech acts in Javanese dialogue indicates interaction in communication. Forming elements and the cause of commissive speech acts are determined by the contents of speech context, the use of a single prepositive predicate, and the form of the word whose meaning indicates the function of commissive speech acts.
Paina compared that in Western linguistic tradition, commissive speech acts are predominantly indicated by the verb. Meanwhile, in the Javanese language, besides the verb, they are also indicated by the context. "The purpose of commissive speech acts is often in form of meta-message, but participants can still understand the meaning," he said.
Prof. Dr. Soepomo Poedjosoedarmo, his promoter, expected that Paina would continue his education to professorship because, according to Soepomo, with that title Paina can widen the knowledge of his students.
Chair of examiners, Dr. Ida Rochani Adi, S.U., conveyed that Paina is UGM’s 1178th graduate who passed with very excellent distinction.