The harmonious relationship between human
beings and nature in traditional song lyric during
sintren ritual
Siti Ayu Masthuroh
*
, Prihantoro
Department of Linguistics, Faculty of Humanities, Diponegoro University, Semarang - Indonesia
Abstract. This study aims to describe how communication patterns and
symbolic meaning in the procession of Cirebon sintren ritual. The data that
researchers use are limited to traditional songs accompanying sintren
procession so that the research discussion can be explained in a focused and
directed manner. This research is a descriptive qualitative research using the
ethnographic theory of communication. Research data analyzed using
domain analysis techniques based on unit theory analysis presented by Dell
Hymes about the setting (communication situation), event (communication
event), and act (communication act). The results showed that the choice of
the floral lexicon ginger, galangal, and zingiber in traditional song lyric
during sintren ritual reflects the characteristics of Cirebon society who live
in areas with geographical conditions of lowlands and highlands. These three
floral lexicons are everyday plants that they encounter; meaning language
use in a society cannot be separated from its natural environment.
Meanwhile the symbolic meaning in the fragment of the song and the gesture
of the sintren procession reflect the state of society during the colonial
period.
Keywords: Traditional song; sintren ritual; natural environment
1 Introduction
Indonesia is an archipelago consisting of various ethnic groups. According to BPS census
data in 2010 there were 1,340 ethnic groups in Indonesia. The diversity of ethnic groups in
Indonesia does not only affect the number of language in each regions but also the diversity
of cultures and traditions also possessed by Indonesia, due to the essence of language and
culture cannot be separated from each other. Culture includes a set of patterns and ways of
life of people and the community uses language as the main intermediary tool for forwarding,
applying and communicating their culture. The use of language in culture we can see in the
ritual communication.
Sintren is one of the rituals of Cirebon society. This tradition experiences development
and distribution in Central Java. In addition, people in West Java even recognize this tradition
and be attached to their lives, including in the area of Cirebon and Indramayu. Sintren is a
*
Corresponding author: ayumasthuroh@gmail.com
© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons
Attribution License 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
E3S Web of Conferences 202, 07019 (2020) https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202020207019
ICENIS 2020