Whom did Kiai Bisri Musthafa Address, Santri or Congregation? Language Registers in al-Ibrīz and Problems of Audience

This paper offers a new reading of register polarization in two types translations (narrative and gandul/interlinear) the tafsīr part al-Ibrīz li-Ma’rifat Tafsīr al-Qur’ān al-‘Azīz by Kiai Bisri Musthafa. A close narrative translation requires identification every word comprising speech to identify register. In order recognize thegandul/interlinear translation, one must put into one’s perspective tripartite components properly them consideration. Bearing this mind, I found that uses ngoko lugu address audience both parts tafsīr. gandul can barely moment which addresses audience. However, very is not exclusively exhausting spaces. many places krama inggil heavily flavor dough. implies author-audience relationship more likely kiai-santri Islamic science class (pedagogical) instead kiai-congregation pengajian (public religious teaching, thus da’wa).