Politeness in the Language of the Coastal Communities of Lake Tempe: A Reflection of Local Wisdom in Social Interaction

Abstract

This study examines the manifestation of politeness strategies in the linguistic practices of coastal communities surrounding Lake Tempe, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, as a reflection of indigenous wisdom embedded in social interactions. Through ethnolinguistic analysis, this research explores how traditional values and cultural norms are encoded in politeness markers, discourse patterns, and communicative strategies used by the Bugis-speaking communities. The study reveals that politeness in Lake Tempe coastal communities operates through a complex system of honorifics, indirect speech acts, and contextual sensitivity that reflects deep-rooted cultural values of respect, harmony, and social hierarchy. The findings demonstrate that these linguistic politeness strategies serve not only as communicative tools but also as vehicles for preserving and transmitting local wisdom across generations. The research contributes to understanding how indigenous communities maintain cultural identity through language use while adapting to contemporary social changes.