The explicature of directional and warning signs posted at UIN Malang

ABSTRACT

Every directional and warning sign posted in certain places of course have certain purposes, Because of that, the researcher is interested in analyzing the directional and warning signs using relevance theory of explicature proposed by Dan Sperber and Deidre Wilson. This study focuses on analyzing explicature of directional and warning signs posted at UIN Malang.

The purpose of this study is to help the readers understand short written texts in directional and warning signs posted at UIN Malang. It is very important to investigate because an explicature is an enrichment of an original utterance. Generally, this research gives a direction in helping us to understand the explicature used in short written texts, especially, directional and warning signs written in English which are posted at UIN Malang, in order that we can get the intended meaning of the utterance (information or caution). Thus, the utterances are clear and avoid ambiguity by using explicature theory.

The research is conducted by using a descriptive qualitative method based on the relevance theory of explicature proposed by Dan Sperber and Deidre Wilson, because the data are in the forms of written texts in directional and warning signs posted at UIN Malang. The data have been selected only on nine utterances of directional and warning signs posted at UIN Malang based on the theory of explicature. There are some steps that should be taken to reach the explicature. Firstly, considering the vague terms. Secondly, adding some disambiguous words. Thirdly, developing the conceptual constituent.

The findings are intended to answer the research problem “How is the explicature used in directional and warning signs posted at UIN Malang?” The result of this study shows that three ways to reach explicature; (1) Specifying the vague terms, (2) Adding disambiguous words and (3) developing conceptual constituents are use in reaching the intended meaning of directional and warning signs posted at UIN Malang. However, the policy makers let the readers think the information by their own perspectives in directional and Warning signs which are written minimally but convey message maximally. These findings are recommended that the lecturers use these findings as the teaching materials of explicature theory, and for the students of English Letters, to raise the pragmatic awareness in order that the students can really understand the policy makers’ intention. Furthermore, it is also recommended for the next researchers to complete the data in other areas relevant with explicature theory.