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CONFERENCE PROGRAM AND ICGCS 2021

ABSTRACT BOOK

Gender, Language and Literature

RECOGNITION OF GENDER ROLE IN MINAHASAN

ETHNIC LANGUAGES: ANTROPOLINGUISTIC

APPROACH ON KOLINTANG ORAL TRADITION

Jultje Aneka Rattu

Universitas Sam Ratulangi

Discourse on gender related to the issue of male domination over women in aspects of socio-

cultural life is a normal, natural, and at the same time down to earth phenomenon. However,

the way of a language as a medium of communication and socialization in society can show

one's culture and refute the discrimination. Observers often think that the Minahasan
community pays little attention to the gender aspect. They use German, English, or Dutch, as a

comparison. This paper tries to explore gender differences which includes the issue of the

recognition of men towards women in anthropolinguistic studies. It is presented to illustrate

how gender aspects are recognized in the Minahasan language and society, especially in

Kolintang oral tradition. This study objective is to reveal linguistic forms in Kolintang oral
tradition that reflect gender in the language of the Minahasan ethnic group using

anthropolinguistic theory. The data collection in this study used the interview or conversation,

the listening or the note-taking, and the introspection method. Data collected from language

speakers in Minahasa, North Sulawesi, shows that gender recognition are present in the

language and culture of the community. Society recognizes concepts or words to express the

important role of women in the Kolintang oral tradition. The language-speaking community
also has a vocabulary to show the prominence of the role of women and is strengthened by

the distinctive narrative contained in Minahasan folklore. These data show that the gender

aspect is actually perceived and important in the Minahasa language and society, in North

Sulawesi. The key findings of the study show that there are words, combinations of words,

terms, expressions, and traditions in Minahasan society that have a gender perspective. In the

rice picking season, usually Kolintang music is played by three players with three Kolintang
instruments. The first Kolintang is called Inak ‘Mother’ with 6 (la), 5 (sol), 3 (mi) notes, namely

the mother goddess, Lumimuut, and Kolintang. Kolintang. Karua ‘Kedua’ with notes 3 (mi), 2

(re),1 (do) is the grandmother goddess, Karema. Katelu with 3 (mi) and 2 (re) notes which is also

called Lowy ‘Baby boy’. The sun god, To'ar, who is the husband of the earth goddess, Lumimuut.

These three gods are among the highest ancestors in the Minahasa line of gods. Karema, To'ar,
and Lumimuut are a trinity in the ancient religious belief system in the form of belief in

ancestors and are used as symbols to become the names of the three bamboo of Kolintang

musical instruments with the "trinodis" (three notes) tone. If only one bamboo Kolintang is

played, then INA ‘MOTHER’ is used with 6 (la), 5 (sol), 3 (mi) notes. Based on the results of this

study, it can be concluded that Minahasan women are highly valued by their community. The
attitude and treatment as well as the views of the Minahasan community are more aware and

understand about gender equality

Keywords: Gender, Language, Literature, the Minahasan ethnic group, and

Anthropology

Short Biography:

Jultje Rattu is a lecturer in the English Department at the University of Sam

Ratulangi. She received her doctorate in Cultural Studies from the University of

Indonesia. Her research interests include oral tradition performances of

Minahasan ethnicity, and linguistic anthropology approach on Kolintang music

tradition

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