The Address Terms based on the Kinship System in the Minangkabau Language used in Kenagarian Malai V Suku Timur, Jorong Malai Tuo

Abstract

This research aims to analyse the use of kinship address terms in the Minangkabau community in Jorong Malai Tuo, with a focus on variations in their use across generations. This research uses a descriptive qualitative approach with Syafyahya's theory of address terms as the basis for analysis. Data were obtained through interviews and recorded conversations with 20 participants aged 25-85 years, who are natives and still maintain the Minangkabau kinship tradition. The results show that address terms, such as Abak, Ama, Ungku, Iyak, Buyuang, and Supiak, are used differently based on age, marital status, and kinship relationship factors. Older generations tend to use distinctive traditional terms, while younger generations more often use modern terms influenced by the wider social environment. This shift reflects socio-cultural changes in Minangkabau society, especially in the preservation of traditional values through language. This research contributes to understanding the sociolinguistic dynamics that influence the survival of traditional greeting terms in the midst of modernisation. The implications of this research emphasise the importance of preserving traditional greeting terms as part of Minangkabau cultural identity.