Remediating Tabe’ Politeness in Digital Interactions among Bugis Youth
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29407/xza28w48Abstract
This study investigates the remediation of the Bugis cultural expression “Tabe” within digital communication practices among Bugis youth in Indonesia. Traditionally, Tabe’ represents a verbal and nonverbal politeness practice expressed through bodily gestures symbolizing humility and respect. However, the transition from physical interaction to virtual communication has transformed Tabe’ into a symbolic linguistic strategy embedded in digital micro-interactions. This research aims to analyze how Bugis youth reconstruct and negotiate cultural politeness through social media and instant messaging platforms. Using a qualitative netnographic approach, data were collected from WhatsApp groups, Instagram comments, Telegram communities, and Facebook interactions involving Bugis-speaking youth between January and March 2026. The findings reveal that Tabe’ functions as a digital face-saving mechanism used to request permission, soften directives, reduce interpersonal tension, and preserve collective identity in online environments. The study further demonstrates that digital technology does not eliminate indigenous cultural values but instead facilitates their symbolic adaptation into virtual communication practices. The research contributes to intercultural communication and digital culture studies by proposing the concept of symbolic politeness remediation in computer-mediated communication
Keywords:
Tabe’, Digital Politeness, Bugis Culture, Netnography, Face NegotiationDownloads
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Copyright (c) 2026 Mustika Faidah Syam , Windya Tripuspita Lestari , Suci Tri Anjani , Fathul Mahsun , Latang (Author)
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