Ecolinguistics in the Cultural Acculturation of the Northern Coastal Communities of Central Java

Abstract

The main subject of this research is the ecological lexicon in the northern coastal communities of Central Java. The existence of ecological lexicon in the Northern coastal communities may serve as a form of language attitude of the speech community. The language attitude is not only observable by verbal messages, but Javanese people are closely integrated with the biological environment. The symbols of nature appear to be integrated with the life of the Northern coastal communities of Central Java. These symbols of nature represent the philosophy of life of the Northern Coastal communities of Java who still firmly uphold their faith and belief. The method used was a survey involving questionnaires from several informants at the observation points. Observation points in three major areas of Northern Coast of Central Java were including Demak, Pati, and Rembang. The data were collected by ecolinguistic design. The results of the research showed that the ecological lexicon of Northern coastal communities of Central Java was observable in the designation of agricultural products, especially in the biological environment. This persistence of attitude was manifested in the belief in the ecological lexicon associated with religious rituals. Ecological lexicon was chosen as a symbol of harmonization of human interaction with nature as a fundamental form of integration with their God. In addition to being observable in the ecological lexicon, the language attitude of the Northern coastal communities of Central Java was also seen in the cultural ecology of the Northern coastal communities of Central Java. Cultural ecology appeared in the humility in giving a recpect. The respect is reflected in sedekah laut, sedekah bumi rituals, and in the number of architectural ridges (gunungan) of residential building.

Keywords

• ecolinguistics
• ritual
• coast