Environmental Metaphors in Randai Traditional Performance in Minangkabau: Ethnographic Study

Abstract

Minangkabau Randai is one of the traditional arts from West Sumatera, Indonesia that combines four different aspects: silat, theater, music and dancing. The purpose of Randai is to spread moral values of Minangkabau tradition by using a story called kaba. This research discusses the communication patterns used in Randai. Descriptive qualiative method is used in the research and the data collection is done by doing library research. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Randai could not be performed and thus the data are taken from video recording. The title of the Randai performance discussed is Rambun Pamenan and ethnography of communication approach is used to analyze the data by using Hymes’ theory of unit of analysis. The result of the research shows that the communicative event takes place on an open field and there are five communicative events done by the speakers: the opening of Randai, the opening for kaba, dendang, the play for kaba and closing. The communicative acts in the play for kaba are in the form of dialogue, which contain verses and environmental metaphors. The position of women in Minangkabau culture is represented through the environmental metaphors in the dialogue.