Cultural Keyword ‘Eling’ in Javanese and Its Implication in Javanese Society

Ounu Zakiy Sukaton

doi:10.33479/klausa.v3i01.140

Ounu Zakiy Sukaton Ma Chung University

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33479/klausa.v3i01.140

Keywords: semantics, natural semantic metalanguage, cultural keywords, Javanese language

Abstract

Cultural keywords are important information that we can use to understand how people who use those words see life from their perspective. The same can be said about the Javanese community. Some of their words and concepts are exclusive to their own and they can give hindsight to how the Javanese people perceive their life. In order to analyse the meaning behind cultural keywords, Natural Semantic Metalanguage (NSM) is used in this article. The data was taken from several social media posts to illustrate the core meaning of the word ‘eling’. An explication is proposed for the word ‘eling’ as well as a brief conclusion about the multiple meaning of ‘eling’ and its usage.

References

Farese, G. M. (2016). “The Cultural Semantics of the Japanese Emotion Terms ‘Haji’ and ‘hazukashii’.” New Voices in Japanese Studies, 8, 32-54.
Goddard, C., & Wierzbicka, A. (2004). “Cultural Scripts: What are They and What Are They Good for.” Intercultural pragmatics, 1(2), 153-166.
Gonda, J. (1975). Handbook of Oriental Studies. Section 3 Southeast Asia, Religions, Religionen: Brill.
Murtisari, E. T. (2013). “Some Traditional Javanese Values in NSM: From God to Social Interaction.” International Journal of Indonesian Studies, 1(1), 110-125.
Quinn, G. (1992). The Novel in Javanese: Aspects of Its Social and Literary Character: KITLV Press.
Sapir, E. (1949). “Selected writings of Edward Sapir in language, culture, and personality.” In D. G. Mandelbaum (Ed.), Culture, Language and Personality: Selected Essays. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Stuart Robson, D., & Wibisono, S. (2013). Javanese English Dictionary: Tuttle Publishing.
Wierzbicka, A. (1992).: Semantics, Culture, and Cognition: Universal Human Concepts in Culture-Specific Configurations Oxford University Press.
Wierzbicka, A. (1997). Understanding Cultures through Their Key Words: English, Russian, Polish, German, and Japanese: Oxford University Press.
Wierzbicka, A. (1999). Emotions Across Languages and Cultures: Diversity and Universals: Cambridge University Press.
Wierzbicka, A. (2014). Imprisoned in English. New York: Oxford University Press.