THE PRESIDENT’S VOICE: Deixis and the Making of Social Relations in Jokowi’s Speech

Abstract

Praise and gratitude are sincerely expressed to Almighty God, who has bestowed health, strength, and inspiration, enabling the completion of this monograph entitled “The President’s Voice: Deixis and the Making of Social Relations in Jokowi’s Speech” This work represents the culmination of deep academic inquiry and personal reflection on the powerful intersection between language, communication, and identity in political discourse.

Language is more than a tool for communication, it is a means of constructing meaning, expressing identity, and shaping social reality. In the context of political speeches, language becomes a strategic instrument through which leaders build solidarity, legitimize power, and convey national vision. Inspired by these ideas, this monograph explores the pragmatic phenomenon of deixis as used by President Joko Widodo in his Independence Day speech, highlighting how linguistic choices reflect cultural values, social relations, and ideological intentions.

The completion of this monograph would not have been possible without the guidance, support, and encouragement of many individuals. The author extends sincere appreciation to academic advisors, lecturers, and colleagues in the English Education Department at Universitas Prima Indonesia for their valuable feedback and encouragement throughout the research process. Special thanks are also extended to fellow researchers and students whose constructive discussions and shared insights have enriched this work.

This monograph is humbly offered to readers, researchers, and students of linguistics and discourse studies who are interested in exploring how language operates as both a communicative and ideological force in society. It is the author’s hope that this study will contribute to a deeper understanding of how deixis functions not only as a linguistic phenomenon but also as a reflection of identity, culture, and leadership in the Indonesian political context.

Finally, the author welcomes any constructive criticism and suggestions for the improvement of this work. May this monograph serve as a useful reference for future studies in linguistics, pragmatics, and discourse analysis.