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Achieving 'Very Satisfactory' Predicate, FIB Unud Promovenda Defends Dissertation on Balinese Pop and Koplo Lyrics
The Doctoral Program in Linguistics, Faculty of Humanities, Udayana University (FIB Unud) has once again produced a new doctor through an Open Examination Session held in the Dr. Ir. Soekarno Meeting Room, Poerbatjaraka Building, on Friday, October 2, 2026. Promovenda I Dewa Ayu Devi Maharani Santika, S.S., M.Hum. successfully achieved a “Very Satisfactory” (Sangat Memuaskan) predicate after successfully defending her dissertation titled “Language Dynamics in Balinese Language Song Lyrics” before the board of examiners, colleagues, and family.
The promovenda's success in defending her research results is inseparable from the guidance, input, and evaluation provided by the examiners. This open examination session was chaired by Prof. Dr. I Made Netra, S.S., M.Hum., accompanied by Prof. Dr. Ketut Artawa, M.A. as the Promoter, Prof. Dr. Ni Luh Nyoman Seri Malini, S.S., M.Hum. as Co-promoter 1, and Prof. Dr. Drs. I Wayan Simpen, M.Hum. as Co-promoter 2. Meanwhile, the board of examiners accompanying the session chair consisted of Prof. Dr. Ketut Widya Purnawati, S.S., M.Hum., Prof. Dr. Drs. I Nyoman Suparwa, M.Hum., Prof. Dr. Made Sri Satyawati, S.S., M.Hum., Prof. Dr. Dra. Ni Made Suryati, M.Hum., and Prof. Dr. Desak Putu Eka Pratiwi, S.S., M.Hum.
This dissertation was motivated by the phenomenon of changes in the Balinese language due to contact with outside languages, such as Indonesian and English. This change is not merely in the form of the loss of language elements but rather triggers the alternation or substitution in the use of lexical forms chosen contextually. This research focused its object on Balinese language song lyrics within the currently trending pop and koplo genres. These musical genres are seen as highly productive spaces to observe the phenomenon of language dynamics, both internally (such as variations, pronominal alternations, and verbs) and externally (such as word borrowing to meet musical aesthetic demands).
Methodologically, this is a qualitative research that collaborates three main theoretical approaches: sociolinguistics, language functions, and systemic functional linguistics. The research data were obtained from 75 pop and koplo song lyrics in Balinese. These lyrics were collected from five singers known to have contributed and maintained consistency in their works during the period from 2000 to 2025. The data collection technique was conducted proportionally to answer three main formulations of the problem: to determine the form of language dynamics, the function of language in lyrical diversity, and the factors influencing those language dynamics.
The results of this dissertation revealed several significant empirical and theoretical findings. Empirically, language dynamics are highly driven by active word borrowing to fulfill metric demands or the end rhymes of the lyrics, and are colored by dynamic pronominal shifts between refined (halus) and ordinary (biasa) Balinese language, such as the use of the words 'bli', 'tiang', and the egalitarian concept of 'iraga'. Theoretically, this research reformulates the anggah-ungguh (speech levels) system of the Balinese language, which is apparently used more flexibly as a source of artistic expression adapted to the theme, genre, and emotion of the song. Furthermore, an extension of the phatic function was also found, which now has a vertical dimension related to the relationship with God (the parahyangan realm), where all these language dynamics are strongly influenced by factors of musical aesthetics, the restructuring of social distance, and the ideologization between modernity and locality.
During the Q&A session, the promovenda explained that the combination of sociolinguistics and systemic functional linguistics theories is necessary to analyze external language factors as well as internal grammar. For future research development, a comparative study with older song lyrics and direct interviews with songwriters were proposed. This discussion also highlighted important findings regarding the expansion of the phatic function (opening communication), which now has a transcendental vertical dimension to connect with God, as well as sociocultural reflections within the lyrics. These cultural phenomena are clearly seen from the ethnic contact of three languages (Balinese, Indonesian, Japanese) in a particular song, to the selection of asymmetrical greetings "Bli" and "Adi" to specifically represent intimacy and the role of protection in romantic relationships.
In delivering his final remarks and impressions while closing the session, Prof. Dr. Ketut Artawa, M.A., as the promoter, congratulated and appreciated the promovenda's extraordinary struggle in successfully completing her studies amidst the heavy burden of balancing time between work responsibilities, education, and family. The promoter advised the promovenda to always assure herself, remain confident, and constantly maintain her self-dignity, which is an important guiding principle for an academician. This graduation moment also felt deeply emotional and historic, as the promovenda is the 50th doctoral student and the very last student supervised by the promoter at Udayana University before he enters his retirement at the end of October.
UDAYANA UNIVERSITY