Function of Nonverbal Signs in Balia Rituals The Kaili ethnic in Palu, Indonesia

Abstract

The purposes of this study are to find and describe the function of nonverbal signs in Balia ritual in Central Sulawesi, which are found in (1) equipment, (2) attribute, (3) instrument, (4) color, and (5) motion. The function of nonverbal sign on attribute is found in pajama (men's clothing), siga (men's headband), silu (women's headband), shawl, fan, babe (a type of machete used by men), which includes two functions of the sign, which are the symbol-sinsign and icon-sinsign. The function of nonverbal sign of the instrument are the kakula (a type of gamelan), gong, gimba (a type of drum), lalove (Kaili's flute) including three sign functions, namely icon-qualisign –inconicsinsign, qualisign-inconicsinsign, and symbol-inconicsinsign. The function of nonverbal sign on color is found in red, yellow, white, and black colors that include two sign functions, namely icon-symbol-qualisign and symbol-qualisign. The function of nonverbal sign on motion is found in meaju, motaro, raego, motaro, and salonde, including one sign function, namely the rhematic symbol-iconic sinsign.This research is a descriptive qualitative research with ethnographic and interdisciplinary approaches. The research data was in the formof photo documentation and recordings and facts at the research location. The data collection activities were carried out using observation techniques, field notes, in-depth interviews, and recording/documentation. The data analysis technique used objective hermeneutics which was divided into two procedures, namely (1) series analysis and (2) detailed analysis.For the validity of the data, triangulation was carried out at each stage of the research, research tools, and clarification of research findings to informants namely the balia ritual leader and followers of the balia ritual, focus group discussions, and external auditors who knows deeply about the balia ritual. The findings of this study are the function of nonverbal signs in the Kaili ethnic balia ritual in Palu-Indonesia which is found in (1) equipment, (2) attribute, (3) instrument, (4) color, and (5) motion. Theoretically, this study strengthens pragma-semiotics because the findings of this study indicate the function of nonverbal signs in balia rituals in the context of nonverbal language. In practical terms, these findings are useful for universities related to teaching pragmatics and semiotics that develop interdisciplinary science by integrating two theories, namely pragmatics and semiotics into pragma-semiotics.

Keywords: function, nonverbal signs, balia ritual, pragma-semiotics

DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/10-24-08

Publication date: December 31^st 2020