LEXICAL AND SOCIAL MEANING OF MARITIME PURE ORAL TRADITIONS OF THE BIAK TRIBE: ETHNOLINGUISTIC PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

The Biak tribe in Papua has a close attachment to the sea, which is reflected in maritime oral languages and traditions. This tradition serves not only as a means of cultural inheritance but also as a social, spiritual, and ecological guide in the lives of coastal communities. This research aims to uncover the lexical and social meaning in the purely maritime oral tradition of the Biak tribe through an ethnolinguistic approach. The research method uses a qualitative approach with an ethnographic design, located in Biak Numfor Regency, with research subjects in the form of traditional leaders, native speakers, and traditional fishermen. Data were collected through participatory observation, in-depth interviews, documentation, and literature studies, then analyzed descriptively. The results of the study show that the maritime vocabulary of the Biak language, such as terms for the moon, sun, stars, wind, seasons, sea, and boats, not only has a lexical meaning, but also is full of social meaning. For example, the term wampasi (shady season) is interpreted as a symbol of blessing, while wambraw (wave season) is understood as a sign of danger. This oral tradition becomes natural navigation, customary norms, and reflections on Biak cosmology that unite humans, nature, and ancestors. In conclusion, the oral maritime tradition of the Biak tribe is a local wisdom that maintains ecological harmony as well as cultural identity. However, modernization poses serious challenges, so that preservation efforts are needed through local culture-based education and regional policies.