Humor in Da’wah: socio-linguistic analytic of Kyai Ishaq Latif da’wah from Pesantren Tebuireng Jombang

This article aims to describe the anatomy of humor exercised consistently by one of Islamic preachers and teachers from Pesantren Tebuireng, Jombang. This article employs qualitative approach. Kyai Ishaq Latif humor in his sermon analyzed by socio-linguistic perspective. This article found that the Islamic teaching containing theology, family relationship, and social interaction was delivered by him with humor such as anecdotes, acronym., codes, limerick, and satire. Humor has been developed within certain social context. Preacher use humor to be more understood by broader audiences. This article thus suggests that the usage of humor in religious sermons will generate intimacy which enable audience accepted the message without being coerced or offended or intimidated. Humor in religious sermon shows social dialect (sociolect) of the preacher that has integrated with his audiences. The usage of humor is an alternative instrument in delivering holy messages (act sequences) to be accepted effectively by the audiences.