King's Leadership in Malay Manuscripts through a Language Perspective

Malaysian society should get to know more closely and know about the position of the king who should be respected unconditionally. Writings related to the king through Malay manuscripts often display stories of his leadership to the people that should be known and used as an example. Malay manuscripts related to the king should be highlighted as an educational element for the public to better know and recognize the royal institution. This study examines the appearance of the king's leadership in Malay manuscripts from a linguistic perspective by focusing on the role of language as a vehicle for the formation, disclosure, and maintenance of the power of the royal institution. Malay manuscripts such as Sejarah Melayu, Hikayat Hang Tuah, Hikayat Raja-Raja Pasai and Tuhfat al-Nafis not only function as historical records, but also as an ideological medium that displays the position of the king as a symbol of sovereignty, protector of religion, upholder of the law and moral example of the community. From a linguistic point of view, the use of speech acts such as directives and constatives play an important role in asserting the king's power. Directives speech acts such as titah, larangan and nasihat function to control the actions of officials and the people, while constative speech acts are used to assert facts, laws and events that legitimize the king's position. In addition, the use of courtly language, honorific titles and formal language structures demonstrate social hierarchy and reinforce sovereignty. Language in Malay manuscripts is not just a means of communication, but an instrument of power that shapes society's perception of the king's leadership and sovereignty. Education related to royal institutions through Malay manuscripts is expected to raise awareness among the public about the king's position which must be respected and honored.

royal institutions, leadership, language, Malay manuscripts, speech acts

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