The Representation of Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Identities in Pramoedya Ananta Toer's Novels

This study aims to reveal the representation of indigenous and non-indigenous identities in Pramoedya Ananta Toer's novels through the approach of speech act theory. This theory, developed by J.L. Austin and refined by John Searle, emphasizes the functions of speech in the context of communication, especially in the dimensions of locution, illocution, and perlocution. Pramoedya's novels, especially those included in the Buru Tetralogy, show the power relations, resistance, and stereotypes between indigenous and non-indigenous ethnic groups in the context of colonial and postcolonial Indonesia. By analyzing the speech acts of the characters, this study finds that ethnic identities are constructed and negotiated through language strategies that reflect the socio-political positions of each group. The speech acts of non-indigenous characters, such as the Chinese and Dutch, tend to reflect domination or efforts to maintain the status quo, while indigenous characters show forms of resistance or subversion through their speech. The results of this study indicate that ethnic representation in Pramoedya's works is not only present as a narrative theme, but is also manifested pragmatically in the interactions between characters.