THE FUNCTION OF MILITARY REGISTER LANGUAGE SPEECH DISCOURSE IN THE 1ST KOSTRAD BOGOR HEALTH BATTALION

Abstract

Military register is a specific language variation studied in sociolinguistics. It facilitates communication efficiency, maintains hierarchy, and builds solidarity among military personnel. Acronyms and abbreviations simplify information delivery while helping maintain confidentiality. This study, entitled “The Function of Military Register Language in the 1st Health Battalion, Kostrad,” aims to analyze military register functions based on Halliday’s theory. Using a descriptive qualitative method and a realist communication ethnography approach, data were collected through observation, interviews with 30 military personnel (8 officers, 12 non-commissioned officers, and 10 enlisted personnel), and questionnaires distributed to 100 personnel across different ranks. The data comprised spoken and written communication in formal and informal activities. The findings reveal five dominant functions: (1) personal, expressing speakers’ feelings and emotions; (2) representational, conveying environmental information; (3) directive, influencing listeners’ behavior through commands; (4) regulatory, controlling behavior through prohibitions and appeals; and (5) phatic/interactional, establishing and maintaining social relationships through positive responses. This study contributes to sociolinguistic research on professional registers and provides insights for military communication training.