Women’ Deixis in Trade Interaction of West Sumatra Traditional Market

Abstract

The Minangkabau language has richness in female deixis, which provides an overview of the value of women’s roles and social position in society. For many people, the fluctuating calls for women in the trade are only mere persuasion from traders to buyers. Meanwhile, from a pragmatic study, this call has deep social meaning. This study was aimed at finding the categories, positions, and social meanings of women based on their deixis in trade interactions in the traditional market of West Sumatra. This research uses a descriptive qualitative approach. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation. Focus group discussions were used for confirmation and triangulation with 26 informants. From the analysis of all deixis and their meanings, it was found that there were social categories of traders and buyers. The social position of women still dominated both as traders and buyers. There are social meanings of women’s power, respect, and various positive meanings, and almost no negative meanings of women’s deixis in Pasa Bawah. This study concludes that Pasa Bawah is an example of a traditional Minangkabau market that still keeps holding the custom and upholds the dignity of women. There are high positions and strong power of a woman on trader social structure in the traditional market. Each deixis shows the position of women in trade in Pasa Bawah, which indicates a role of power, respectability, and determination, or the role of the ordinary people under the power of others. Sometimes, the wrong use of deixis can have serious consequences.