482 Chapter 15 Speech levels
levels that have been posited.
The same can be said for Madurese. Strict speech levels and rules for their
use are, of course, hypothetically a possibility. However, to posit these would
misrepresent the system. This is manifest in the examples above illustrating the
ways in which speakers can use alos or kasar with tengnga'an vocabulary to fine
tune their speech in a particular situation.
3. Textual examples
Narratives provide a wealth of illustrations of the use of the speech levels with a
variety of social dynamics. A few examples are presented illustrate in a number
of distinct social situations.
As described in section 1.2, traditionally, wives were to speak to their
husbands using alos and husbands to their wives using tengnga'an; however,
texts reveal that there was much variation. For example, in some instances hus-
bands responded in kasar. The following two short dialogues are taken from the
story Asal Molana Nyamana Disa Soca – Jambu – Burneh told by Pa' Hasan
Sasra and recorded in 2006. In these two short dialogues, Joko Tole (JT) and
Dewi Ratnadi (DR), Dewi Ratnadi, have arrived on Madura after a difficult
voyage and are making their way back to Sumenep. Dewi Ratndi addresses her
husband in alos, and Joko Tole responds in kasar. Alos words are marked with a
double underscore, and kasar words with a single underscore.
DR: Ka' mas Joko Tole, kaula badan ce' lo' nyaman-na, terro
elder.brother Joko Tole I body very not pleasant-DEF want
mandhi-ya. Sala neka gatel kabbi.
bathe-IRR wrong this itchy all
‘Joko Tole, I am very uncomfortable and want to bathe. I feel itchy
all over.’
JT: Iya, mara engko' nyare-ya aeng, tang bine. Pola me' nemmo.
yes HORT I AV.seek-IRR water my wife maybe EMPH AV.find
‘Yes, let me look for water, my wife. Maybe I can find some.’
In the second dialogue, after finding no water, Dewi Ratnadi tells Joko Tole of a
special cane she has been given that may help them.