ANTHROPOLINGUISTICS
SAMPLE OF STUDY (2)
By Group 11
Rhenaya (220512501040)
Purnandaniswany Yunus (220512501029)
Vika Yuliani Ahmad (220512501055)
MAKASSAR STATE UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
ENGLISH LITERATURE
2024
PREFACE
We extend our heartfelt sincere gratitude to the Almighty for His guidance and blessings
that have enabled us to successfully complete this paper, "SAMPLE OF STUDY." This
work is a fulfillment of one of the requirements for our Anthropology course. We
recognize that it may contain some flaws in content, technical execution, or presentation.
We kindly invite constructive feedback and suggestions from our readers to help us
improve the quality of our writing. Our goal is to contribute a valuable resource to the
field of Anthropology. We hope that this paper will be informative and beneficial to those
who read it.
Makassar, 30 September 2024
The Writers
ABSTRACT
This articles describes the relationship between folklore and the character of the
Leukonese community on Simeulue Island, Aceh, using ethnographic and
anthropolinguistic approaches. Through audio-video recordings, 'nandong' (songs),
'nanga-nanga' (stories) and 'buai' (poems) were analyzed to reveal the components that
make up the meaning of folklore. Domain, taxonomy and semantic component analysis
were used to identify attributes that influence Leukonese character, showing that this
folklore plays an important role in transmitting values, maintaining cultural identity and
strengthening social cohesion within the community.
Keywords: Anthropolinguistic approach, character, folklore, Leukonese community
1. Introduction
This study describes the relationship between folklore and the character of the
Leukonese community on Simeulue Island, Aceh, using ethnographic and
anthropolinguistic approaches. Through audio-video recordings, 'nandong' (songs),
'nanga-nanga' (sad stories) and 'buai' (poems) were analyzed to reveal the components
that make up the meaning of folklore. This research showing that this folklore plays an
important role in transmitting values, maintaining cultural identity and strengthening
social cohesion within the community.
Leukonese is a community that lives on Simeulue Island, Aceh Province,
Indonesia. The Leukonese language is endangered in Simeulue Regency, Aceh Provinc.
This language is spoken only in two villages on the island and is increasingly threatened
due to rapid development and increased reliance on the Indonesian language and the local
lingua franca, the Jamee language. This study aims to answer the research question: What
is the role of folklore in shaping the Leukonese character? By focusing on the under-
researched Leukonese community, it examines how oral traditions like ‘nandong’ convey
local wisdom and influence behaviors. The research highlights the significance of
preserving these traditions amidst modernization and external influences to sustain
cultural identity and values among the youth.
2. Background and Motivation
The Leukonese community on Simeulue Island, Aceh, faces important difficulties
as their language and traditions decline due to modernization and reliance on Indonesian
and Jamee languages. Elders highlight the importance of teaching the next generation
important survival skills and local. Folklore is important because the ancestors have
created and applied the traditions useful and accepted by the Leukonese community.
These traditions are performed by Leukonese people with fulfilled meanings that can be
performed in several forms, such as poetry, stories, and songs.
This study uses an anthropolinguistic lens to investigate how Leukonese folklore shapes
community character. As external influences threaten these traditions, this study is
motivated by the need to understand and preserve folklore to maintain cultural identity
and values among the younger generations, and to ensure that the rich heritage of the
community is not lost.
3. Contributions of the Study
This study explained about the relationship between folklore and character in the
Leukonese community in Aceh province. Nandong, buai, and nanga-nanga which play an
important role for character in leukonese. There are two speech acts in conveying
messages, including declarative speech acts that convey information based on ancestral
knowledge and imperative speech acts that require the younger generation to behave in
accordance with values and culture.
- Nandong: A lyric that is the opening of the nandong that contains a message of hope for
the attitude and learning process.
- Buai: A stanza that informs the purpose of the event as well as aspects related to buai,
such as clothing, relationships, and politeness. The buai text is similar to the nandong
and consists of imperative and declarative sentences.
- Nanga-nanga: A character portrayal of emotional expression. Nanga-nanga takes the
form of stories that have vocal artistry and are passed down through generations.
4. Methodology
The researcher used a qualitative method with an anthropolinguistic approach in
finding the role of folklore and the character of the Leukonese community on the island
of Simeulue. In addition, the ethnography method is also used as a comprehensive and
systematic research measurement tool regarding the role of folklore in shaping the
character of the Leukonese community. Data collected through oral tradition recordings
in the Leukonese community were then analyzed using domain analysis, taxonomy
analysis, and semantic componential analysis. In the domain analysis, the semantic
relationship between the role of folklore and the character of the Leukone community
was investigated, in accordance with the research objectives. Since folklore functions as a
medium of communication in Leukone society, the semantic relationship 'attribute' is
used in this study.
5. Results and Discussion
5.1 Nandong
Nandong is an oral tradition of the Leukonese people sung in
formal/informal/impromptu situations. In anthropolinguistics, oral tradition is very
important in understanding the culture and identity of a group. It helps maintain
collective knowledge, strengthen social bonds, and convey the norms and values of
society. The lyrics of nandong encourage respect, learning, and gratitude which are
essential for personal development and social harmony. Nandong also is generally
sung in a high pitch, by a man or a group of men which indicates that only a man/men
can speak in a high tone as men are considered leaders in the Leukonese community.
By carrying out this oral tradition, the Leukonese people maintain a connection with
their heritage and pass it on to future generations. Like one type of Nandong
(nandong sengang song) below:
Tabik-tabik nampunyo rumah ‘Ask for the host’s permission’
Kami bagandang di surambi ‘We play drum at the porch’
Mintak tabik nanpunyo rumah ‘Ask for the host’s permission’
Kami membaco surek nyanyi ‘We read the song’s lyrics’
Barang nan gala, runduk-rundukkan ‘If a thing is high, please lower it down’
Kanai pirak sitinggi bulan ‘Hit by silver as high as the moon’
Barang nan salah ditunjukkan ‘Show us the right from wrong’
Pandai ado biaso balun ‘We have the wits but just not used to’
Dimano dapek daun sambai? ‘Where could you get the sambai leaves?’
Ko tak di bukik rimbo tuo ‘It must be at rimbo tuo hill’
Dimano dapek kito pandai? ‘Where did you can get the wits?’
Ko tak diaja urang tuo ‘It must be taught by your parents
In the context of anthropological studies, the lyrics delivered in the Nandong
reflect the social and cultural values of the Leukonese people. The first bait contains
social and ethical values which tells us the importance of asking for the host’s
permission before doing any activities at someone’s house. The second bait asks the
teacher to guide, remind, and forgive students if they make mistakes because the
students are still young and need more practice. The third bait advises the students to
remember their parents’ or teacher’s efforts to teach them to be a well-educated
person which reflects the way society respects tradition and knowledge.
5.2 Buai
Buai is a type of oral literature delivered in formal situations in the form of poetry or
rhymes. Aneuk Jamee language is the language used in the delivery of buai. In
addition, buai has a role in the character building of the leukone community,
including:
- cultural preservation
- increased community unity and participation
The opportunities created through buai performances involving singer and audience
interaction aim to develop expression and strengthen bonds.
Buai is only sung by women. It is performed in formal situations. There are examples
of declarative sentences in buai:
Ayun tajak buaikan tajak 'Tajak sling swing, swing the tajak sling'
Tajak Palembang from jao 'Tajak Palembang sling, from far away'
Ayun anak adek oi buaikan anak 'Rock the child oh child, rock the child' Anak sakandung
dengan nyao 'A beloved child who is cared for with all soul'
The simile used in the first two lines and the message conveyed are in the form of
declarative sentences. There is information explaining that tajak as a traditional head
covering is used during buay in celebration.
5.3 Nanga-Nanga
Nanga-nanga provides a platform for emotional expression and coping with personal
and collective experiences. This oral art captures and communicates the lived
experiences of the Leukonese people, addressing themes like family struggles and
colonial impacts, thus fostering a sense of shared history and understanding. The
lyrics often reflect deep personal sorrow or memories, allowing individuals to
process and share their feelings, which promotes emotional.
- Other characters formed by oral tradition are reflections on social reality. The oral art
of nanga-nanga conveys the life experiences of the people of Leucone, which raises
the theme of struggle so as to foster understanding in history.
- It empowers individuals by giving voice to the stories and experiences themselves.
This tradition highlights the importance of diverse perspectives within the
community and reinforces the values of empathy.
Nanga-nanga is a storytelling vocal art that has been passed down through
generations and contains verses of advice, satire and lamentation sung by both men
and women. There are lyrics that read;
'lbo ibo angao emak oe ibo ibo utarimo,
teneng uri urimo banomo ngang baleen emak oe tofanomo ek surugo.
'I am so sad, so sad, but I have accepted this fate since a long time ago until now;
you already have your place, mother. Your place is in heaven, and we will see each
other again in heaven'
The lyrics describe the performer's feelings and what she desired for the future.
Nanga-nanga is similar to a typical sung song, but uses the Leukone language with a
specific tempo and pitch without a chorus or refrain.
6. Conclusion
This study highlights the significant role of folklore in shaping the character of the
Leukonese community on Simeulue Island, Aceh through the lens of
anthropolinguistics. By looking at oral traditions like nandong, buai, and nanga-nanga,
we discovered that these types of folklore preserve cultural identity and social
connections in the face of modernization in addition to imparting cultural values and
wisdom. The Leukonese people can guarantee the continuation of their rich legacy and
shared values for future generations by maintaining these oral traditions, which
highlights the significance of folklore as an essential component of their cultural
identity.
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