A STUDY ON REGISTER USED BY AUTOMOTIVE MECHANICS AT “MAKMUR MOTOR” WORKSHOP

A STUDY ON REGISTER USED BY AUTOMOTIVE
MECHANICS AT “MAKMUR MOTOR” WORKSHOP

THESIS

Written by:
Septian Tri Viviandoko
08360264

UNIVERSITY OF MUHAMMADIYAH MALANG
FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
2015

A STUDY ON REGISTER USED BY AUTOMOTIVE
MECHANICS AT “MAKMUR MOTOR” WORKSHOP

THESIS
This thesis is submitted to meet one of the requirements to achieve
College Degree in English Education


Written by:
Septian Tri Viviandoko
08360264

UNIVERSITY OF MUHAMMADIYAH MALANG
FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

ORIGINALITY DECLARATION

The undersigned:
Name

: Septian tri Viviandoko

Student ID number

: 08360264

Program of Study


: English Department

Faculty

: Faculty of Teacher Training and Education

I declare that the work presented in this thesis was carried out by myself and does
not incorporate without acknowledgement any material previously submitted for a
degree or diploma in any university. To the best of my knowledge this thesis does
not contain any materials previously publish or written by other writers except
where due references are made in text.

Malang, September 2nd, 2015

Septian Tri Viviandoko

A STUDY ON REGISTER USED BY AUTOMOTIVE MECHANICS AT
„MAKMUR MOTOR‟ WORKSHOP
ABSTRACT

Language variation is used by certain community, profession, and group in
social to support their activities which is not all people understandable. One of
language variations is register. This study is conducted in order to find registers
used by automotive mechanics at „Makmur Motor‟ workshop. The objectives of
the research are to find (1) the registers used by automotive mechanic at
„Makmur Motor‟ workshop, and (2) the ways registers used by automotive
mechanic at „Makmur Motor‟ workshop.
The design used in this study is descriptive qualitative research. In
collecting the data, the writer used instrument of observation and interview by
subject of the study is two mechanics of „Makmur Motor‟ workshop.
The finding of this research shows 33 registers used by automotive
mechanics at „Makmur Motor‟ workshop. Those all registers composed by two
categories technical and non-technical registers. In technical registers there were
three main components; a.engine (12 registers; blok, kolter, manukan, mbandang,
mbrebet, mudun mesin, ngembes, nglotor, ngobos, setruk, tap, trap), b.electrical
system (2 registers; sterek, ngepong) and c.body-chassis (10 registers; bayangan,
bottom, bleeding, makan, masuk angin, mbabat, mbody, mleok, nyinting,
tempong). Then in this technical registers it has 3 registers which have special in
use for more than one component. Meanwhile, for the non-technical registers
were 6 registers (cibuk, custom, skoklet, spet, stripping, teropong). In the ways the

registers used by the automotive mechanics it classified based on their activities
such identifying the problems, repairing and determine for parts.
Keyword: (register, automotive, mechanics)
The Advisor I,

The Writer,

Dra. Erly Wahyuni, M.Si

Septian Tri Viviandoko

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Alhamdulillah, all the praise to Allah SWT, the Merciful and Charitable.
Because of His guidance, blessing and affection, the writer can finish his thesis
writing under the title “A Study on Register Used by Automotive Mechanics at
„Makmur Motor‟ workshop”.
The writer would like to express his deepest appreciation and gratitude to
Dra. Erly, M.Si. (Advisor I) and Rahmawati Khadijah Maro, S.Pd, M.PEd
(Advisor II) because their attention, guidance, couragement, criticism during the

completion of this thesis. Then, also thanks for the owner of „Makmur‟ workshop
Mr. Eko with his employees Soleh, Lutfi and Eny.
His grateful thanks are also expressed to his beloved family specially for
his father Salamun, his sister Ely kristiana and the special gratitude goes to his
lovely Ana Masfu‟ah and Muhammad Amruenja who always gives strength,
patience, and thousand‟s motivation. He also thanks to his friends who always
give the inspiration in process of finishing this thesis.
He knows that this thesis has not been perfect yet. Therefore, he expects
the critics and suggestion of the readers. Finally, she hopes that this thesis will be
beneficial for the researcher herself and the reader.

The Writer,

Septian Tri Viviandoko

TABLE OF CONTENTS

APPROVAL………………………………………………………………..........
LEGALIZATION…………………………………………………………….....
MOTTO AND DEDICATION………………………………………………….

ORIGINALITY DECLARATION…………………………………………......
ABSTRACT.………………………………………………………………..........
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS…………………………………………………......
TABLE OF CONTENTS……………………………………………………......

Page
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iii
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vii

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION........................................................................
1.1 Background of the study…………………………………................
1.2 Statement of the study………………………………………………
1.3 Purpose of the study………………………………………………...
1.4 Significance of the study……………………………………………
1.5 Scope and limitation………………………………………………..

1.6 Definition of Key terms…………………………………………….

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3
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4
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CHAPTER II: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE……………………
2.1 Language In society………………………………………………...
2.2 Sociolinguistics……………………………………………………..
2.3 Language Variation…………………………………………………
2.3.1 Dialect……………………………………………...............
2.3.1.1 Regional dialect……………………………………..
2.3.1.2 Social dialect………………………………………..
Lingua franca……………………………………….
Standard language…………………………………..
Prestige dialect………………………………..........

2.3.2 Style………………………………………………..............
2.3.3 Jargon……………………………………………………….
2.3.4 Slang………………………………………………………..
2.3.5 Argot………………………………………………………..
2.3.6 Colloquial…………………………………………………...
2.3.7 Registers…………………………………………………….
2.3.7.1 Definition of registers……………………………….
2.3.7.2 Meaning of registers………………………………..
2.4 Speech Community…………………………...…………………….
2.4.1 Mechanic Automotive…………………………………..

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CHAPTER III: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY…………………………….
3.1 Research Design…………………………………………...............

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3.2 Subject of the study…………………………..................................
3.3 Research Instruments……………………………………………….

3.3.1 Observation……………………………….........................
3.3.2 Interview…………………………………..........................
3.4 Data collection……………………………………………………...
3.5 Data analysis…………………………………………….................

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CHAPTER IV: FINDING AND DISCUSSIONS……………………………..
4.1 Research Findings…………………………………………………..
4.1.1 Registers Used by the Automotive Mechanics at “Makmur
Motor” workshop…………………………………………...
4.1.1.1 Technical registers………………………………….
Engine……………………………………………….
Electrical system……………………………………
Body and chassis……………………………………

4.1.1.2 Non-technical registers……………………………..
4.1.2 The Ways Registers Used by the Automotive Mechanics at
“Makmur Motor” workshop………………………………..
4.1.2.1 Identifying the problems……………………………
4.1.2.2 Repairing……………………………………………
4.1.2.3 Determining for parts……………………………….
4.2 Discussion………………………………………………………….

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CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION………………………..
5.1 Conclusion………………………………………………………….
5.2 Suggestion………………………………………………………….

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REFERENCES
APPENDIX

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References
Adams, Michael. 2009. Slang the people’s Poetry. New York: Oxford University
press
Akmajian, Adrian. Demers, Richard. Farmer, Ann. Harnish, Robert. 2001.
Linguistics An Introduction To Language And Communication 5th Ed.
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Bajpai, Naval. 2011. Business Research Methods. India: Dorling Kindersley Pvt.
Ltd.
Bell, Alan. 2014. The Guidebook to Sociolinguistics. Wiley Blackwell.
Biber, Douglas and Conrad, Susan. 2009. Register, Genre and Style. UK:
Cambridge University Press.
Boraas, Tracey. 1999. Community Helpers Auto Mechanics. Capstone Press.
Blaxter, Loraine. Hughes, Cristina. Tight, Malcolm. 2010. How to Research 4th
Ed. New York: Open University Press.
Cruse, Alan. 2006. A Glossary of semantics and Pragmatics. George Square,
Edinburgh University Press Ltd.
Duranti, Alessandro. 2009. Linguistic Anthropology a Reader 2nd ed. Singapore:
Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Eckert, Penelope and Rickford, John R. 2001. Style and sociolinguistic variation.
United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press - Stanford University.
Hayatiningsih, Winur. 2008. Thesis title “A Study on Registers Used by ‘PT
Telkom’ Community of Malang”. UMM Digital library.
Halliday, M.A.K. 2007. Language and Education vol9. New York: British Library
Cataloging.
Holmes, Janet. 2013. An Introduction to Sociolinguistics 4th Ed. New York:
Routledge.
Kanana, Fridah Erastus. 2011. Meru Dialects: The Linguistic Evidence. Kenyatta
University Kenya: Nordic Journal of African Studies.
Lewandowski, Marcin. 2010. Sociolects and Registers – a Contrastive Analysis of
Two Kinds of Linguistic Variation. Poznan, Poland: Adam Mickiewicz University.
Llamas,Carmen. Mullany,Louise. Stockwell,Peter. 2007.
Companion to Sociolinguistics. New York: Routledge.

The

Routledge

Mahmood, Aseel kazum. 2013. Register and Style. University of Baghdad –
College of arts – English Department.
Maurer, David W. 2003. Whiz Mob A Correlation of the Technical Argot of
Pickpockets with Their Behavior Pattern. USA: Rowman & Littlefield
Publishers, Inc.
McShane, Marilyn D and Williams P. 1996. Encyclopedia of American Prisons.
Taylor & Francis e-Library.
Meyer, Charles F. 2009. Introducing English Linguistics. New York: Cambridge
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Meyerhoff, Miriam. 2006. Introduction Sociolinguistics. USA and Canada:
Routledge.
Miralles, antoni mas i. 2003. Historical sociolinguistics: An alternative to the
analysis of linguistic change. Noves SL. Revista de Sociolingüística. (journal)
Oxford. 2000. Oxford learner’s pocket dictionary 3rd Ed. New York: University
Press.
Paoletti, Isabella. 2011. Sociolinguistics. Portugal: Sociopedia.isa - Universidade
Nova de Lisboa.
Pearson Education. 2011. Language chapter 5. Publishing as prentice hall Inc.
Radford, Andrew. Atkinson, Martin. Britain, David. Clahsen, Harald and Spencer,
Andrew. 2009. Linguistics An Introduction 2nd Ed. New York: Cambridge
University Press.
Romaine, Suzanne. 2000. Language in Society An Introduction to Sociolinguistics
2nd Ed. New York: Oxford University Press.
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Ed). USA: Schreiber Publishing.
Saville-Troike, Muriel. 2003. The Ethnography of Communication 3rd. USA, UK,
Australia: Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Tagliamonte, sali A. 2006. Analysing sociolinguistic variation. New York:
Cambridge Univeristy Press.
Trask, R.L Edited by Peter Stockwell. 2007. Language and Linguistics The key
Concepts Second Edition. USA and Canada: Routledge.

Van Herk, Gerard. 2012. What Is Sociolinguistics. Blackwell Publishing.
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Wardhaugh, Ronald. 2006. An Introduction to Sociolinguistics fifth edition. USA,
UK, Australia: Blackwell Publishing.

Website:
Articleworld. “Register (linguistics).
http://www.articleworld.org/index.php/Register_%28linguistics%29
(diakses 19:50, 22 Agustus 2014)
Halliday. “Halliday, on Register Variation”. StudyPlaceWiki.
http://www.studyplace.org/wiki/Halliday_Register_Variations (diakses
19:30, 22 Agustus 2014)
Lancaster. “Language Variation: Register”.
http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/fass/projects/stylistics/topic6a/variation_regi
ster/8variationreg.htm (diakses 19:40, 22 Agustus 2014)
Mahmood, Aseel Kazum. “Registers and Style”. University of Baghdad.
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22:00, 13 Agustus 2014)

CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

This chapter gives the readers the information of background of study,
statement of problems, purpose of the study, significance of the study, scope and
limitation and definition of key terms.

1.1

Background of the Study
Language is defined as a system of communication by part of a semiotic

system. Meyer (2009) puts in writing that the study of language is conducted
within the field of linguistics. He also describes a linguist studies the structure of
language; how speakers create meaning through combinations of sounds, words,
and sentences that ultimately result in texts. Furthermore, language exists in three
modes: speech, writing, and signs.
Language is a social practice which no texts are constructed in isolation.
Wardhaugh (2006) note that definitions of language and society are not
independent; the definition of language includes in it a reference to society. Thus,
Paoletti (2011:1) also has stated in her journal, “the term „language and society‟
offers the broadest meaning, to include all the research areas, though it is
frequently used interchangeably with sociolinguistics”.
According to Radford, et al (2009:14) sociolinguistics is the study of the
relationship between language use and the structure of society. It takes into
account such factors as the social backgrounds, relationship between speaker and
addressee, context and manner of the interaction, also maintaining that they are
crucial to an understanding of both the structure and function of the language used
in a situation.

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Language variation is one of the main discussions in the study of
Sociolinguistics. Saville -Troike (2003:41) the means of communication used in a
community thus may include different languages, different regional and social
varieties of one or more of the languages, different registers (generally varying on
a formal-informal dimension which cross-cuts regional and social dimensions),
and different channels of communication (e.g. oral, written, manual).
Trudgill (2003) (in Lewandowski, 2010) defines sociolinguistic concisely as
„a variety or lect which is thought of as being related to its speaker‟s social
background rather geographical background‟. In other words, it is the language
spoken by a particular social group, class or subculture, whose determinants
include such parameters as: gender, age, occupation, and possibly a few others.
From the statement above it shows that register is another complicating
factor in studying language varieties. Registers are sets of language items
associated with discrete occupational or social groups (Wardhaugh, 2006:52). It
means that the use of registers belong to what people do and character of them
work. The other aspect of register is alongside social factor where process and
activity is social action which engaging several people.
The theoretical explanation above is also supported by empirical research
works done by Hayatiningsih (2008) entitled “A study on Registers used by „PT
TELKOM‟ community of Malang”. She assumes that register in PT TELKOM
have two kind of register, there were formal register and informal register. Those
registers have been found about 17 items and the meanings were obtained based
on the social context.
Based on Lanigan, et al (2011:2) automotive systems consist of mechanical,
hydraulic, software and hardware components that implement specific vehicle
functions. The writer assumes that automotive area use language varieties as tool

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to express communication among users inside. Many technical terms is used in
automotive, obviously the context should be at the right for communicate between
mechanics. However, assessing technical term has difficulty that is not a simple
work.
‘Makmur Motor’ is a workshop at Kebonsari Street, Tumpang town in
Malang regency. Makmur Motor is an automotive repair and service place where
it has 3 employees (two mechanics and one cashier). Here, several activities were
doing technical engineering which specific purpose in motorcycle is occurred.
Based on the phenomena above, the researcher is interested in analyzing
commonly register used in „Makmur Motor‟ because it is suitable workshop to do
the research as writer‟s expectation.

1.2

Statement of the Study
Based on the background of study, the researcher would like to formulate

the problems as follows:
1. What are the registers used by automotive mechanic at „Makmur Motor‟
workshop?
2. How are the registers used by automotive mechanic at „Makmur Motor‟
workshop?

1.3

Purpose of the Study
In line with the statements of the problems, the purposes of the study are:
1. To find the registers used by automotive mechanic at „Makmur Motor‟
workshop.
2. To describe the ways the registers used by automotive mechanic at
„Makmur Motor‟ workshop.

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1.4

Significance of the Study
Theoretically, the study will inform the readers which not all everyone is

understand about language variation that they used. Then, it will enrich kind of
register that occurred in a community, contribute in sociolinguistics subject on
English department of UMM.
In practically, result of this study mechanic at Makmur Motor workshop can
differentiate the registers as language variation. So that they will use simple
communicate for anyone who unfamiliar with their community. Also, the result of
study used as reference by translator student in seeking language variation
automotive terms.

1.5

Scope and limitation
Registers can be used by any profession or social group. Here the researcher

limits the study of registers used only by two automotive mechanics from three
employees at Makmur Motor workshop.

1.6

Definition of Key Terms
To avoid misunderstanding in this study, this study will give some

definitions of key terms as a guide for the reader. The terms, which are needed to
be defined, are as follows:
1. Semiotics is the study of signs in general. It covers all types of sign – visual,
auditory, gestural, olfactory, and so on -- whether produced by animals or
humans (Alan Cruse, 2006)
2. Automotive has two definition, first is something that containing within
itself the means of propulsion or movement and second is something that of
or relating to motor vehicle.

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2. Mechanic is a person in automobile dealership or automobile repair shop. In
large mention they are namely for gasoline service station person. Many of
them are employed by federal, state, local agency or private enterprise.
3. - Workshop is room or building where things are made or repaired (Oxford
3th edition.2000).
- “A large number of vehicles are plying on the roads that need repairs and
other services. Because of this opportunity, a large number of automobile
workshops have been established and are operating throughout the
country” (Kayemuddin and Kayum, 2013).
- It means workshop that the writer used here is a place where room or
building that repairs and services of any vehicles.
4. Register is sets of language items associated with discrete occupational or
social group (Wardhaugh, 2002:51).

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