Available online at www.jlls.org JOURNAL OF LANGUAGE AND LINGUISTIC STUDIES ISSN: 1305-578X Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 17(2), 1013-1022; 2021 © 2021 Cognizance Research Associates - Published by JLLS. Malaysian folktales: An understanding of the motif- index of folk literature applicability in the local folktales’ context Harryizman Harun a 1 , Azliza Othman b , Subashini Annamalai c a,b,c School of Multimedia Technology and Communication, Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Malaysia APA Citation: Harun, H., Othman, A., Annamalai, S. (2021). Malaysian folktales: An understanding of the motif- index of folk literature applicability in the local folktales’ context. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 17(2), 1013-1022. Doi: 10.52462/jlls.70 Submission Date: 20/02/2021 Acceptance Date: 15/05/2021 Abstract The motif of the folktale is essentially the smallest and striking elements of narrative content with the ability to endure in tradition. It is divided into three categories: actor, item and single incident. These categories become the foundation that supports the built of the original motif-index of folk literature by Stith Thompson. Nevertheless, the index, as an analysis tool, was developed based on an analysis conducted on mostly European folk literature (folktale inclusive). It is a question dawned on the researcher regarding the applicability of the universal motifs and sub-motifs listed in the index on Malaysian folktales considering such local folktales were not involved in the making of the index many moons ago. Therefore, the study seeks to understand the applicability of the original motif-index in the local folktales’ context. The qualitative text analysis method was mainly employed in Atlas.ti, a computer-aided qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS) to propel the study in understanding the scenario stated. Being the heart of the article, it is found that the original motif-index is indeed applicable in the local folktales’ context to a certain extent. Inopportunely, not all the universal motifs from the index exist in the local folktales. The applicability and dispersion of the motif classes’ weight which leans toward the D. Magic class, is heavily influenced by the differences between the local and the European cultures because truly what is folktale if not a fruit of a unique culture. Keywords: Folktale’s Motif; Malaysian Folktale; Qualitative Text Analysis; Motif-Index of Folk Literature; Motif Analysis Tool. 1. Introduction Stith Thompson invented a classification of folk literature, among others folktale, legend, and myth based on the motif embedded deep in the content of such literature. The motif is the tiniest, peculiar and conspicuous element in a tale that encompasses three categories–actors, items, and single incidents (Thompson, 1977/1946). The third category of the motif is the one that covers most of the motifs and is capable of existing independently in its right as a tale. Believing that a sufficient classification of the motif is momentous in the study of tales, Thompson introduced an extensive list of motif-index with the purpose as an analysis tool to gather folk literature and to organise them logically. The list of main motifs identified, along with its brief explanation, is as shown in Table 1. The details of the sub-motifs 1 Corresponding author. E-mail address: harry@uum.edu.my