Journal Press India^®

Author Details ( * ) denotes Corresponding author

Purpose: Moral issue and language-use were under serious and hot debate among academicians in Indonesia, particularly, in Bali. Native speakers of Balinese used their ancestor language for different purposes. This study on Balinese and moral behavior was mainly concerned with language use. The objectives of the study had been to explore the use of Balinese to indicate the moral behavior of the speakers and to describe how native speakers of Balinese morality are represented in their language.

Design/Methodology/Approach: This research was not designed for experiment; it was a qualitative design with qualitative data collected by means of recording, interview in depth, observation, and documentation. Subjects of the research were native speakers of Balinese consisting of high school, undergraduate, and graduate students, teachers, and village elders. Further, the researcher being native speaker had also been the resource of data in this research. The focus of the research was on language-use and moral behavior.

Findings: Upon analysis and interpretation of data we found out that language-use in Balinese was culturally bound. Balinese in speaking their language was governed by social rules; a speaker’s moral behavior was easily recognized by the language he/she used.

Research Limitations/Implications: The research had been concerned mainly with the use of Balinese expression to indicate speaker’s moral behavior. No other aspect of language-use was considered in the research.

Practical Implications/Values: Findings of this research will be of assistance for language teachers and learners in developing and designing their teaching materials for classroom activities.

Originality/Value: This article has never been sent to any publishers and appeared in any publications. Upon reflection, readers will learn that morality and language are inseparable.

Keywords

Balinese, Language Use, Moral Behavior, Balinese, and Cultural Bound.

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