The Influence of Specific Usage of Address Terms in Kupang Malay Language on Changing Attitudes and Shifting Perceptions

Research and assessment of the use of local languages in Indonesia is essential, and one of the main reasons is for cultural preservation and protection. This writing is aimed at raising the issue of a unique phenomenon found in Kupang Malay dialect, which is spoken by people in Kupang City– East Nusa Tenggara Province. The central aspect presented in this paper is about the use of terms of address in Kupang Malay dialect. Sociolinguistically speaking, this issue is significant to be discussed because it will lead to politeness in communication, from speakers to hearers. Additionally, the more in-depth discussion about how the use of terms of address can change the attitudes and shift perceptions between the users will be provided. A qualitative method has been used to analyze the data, which has been collected through observations and interviews. There have been 12 respondents altogether. The results reveal that terms of address in Kupang-Malay dialect can be categorized into six groups and that several users have undergone the shifting of perceptions and the changing of attitudes.