Komunitas 8 (2) (2016): 285-294 DOI:10.15294/komunitas.v8i2.7195 InternationalKOMUNITAS Journal of Indonesian Society And Culture http://journal.unnes.ac.id/nju/index.php/komunitas Javanese Language and Culture in the Expression of Kebo Bule in Surakarta: An Ethnolinguistic Study Wakit Abdullah 1 1 Universitas Negeri Sebelas Maret, Indonesia DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15294/komunitas.v8i2.7195 Received : 5 September 2015 ; Accepted: 8 August 2016; Published: 30 September 2016 Abstract The phenomenon of Kebo Bule as the actuality of Javanese language and culture in Surakarta can be criticized from the perspective of ethnolinguistic. In terms of the descriptive qualitative expression of the language and culture of Java, Kebo Bule from the perspective of Ethnolinguistic is identifiable on the background of it in Sura- karta, the influence of Kebo Bule to the Surakarta’s Court, and the meaning of Kebo Bule as one of the magical icons of the Surakarta’s Court. Ethnolinguistic as a theoretical concept is part of the branch of linguistic studies that seeks to study the language understanding in a broader context in order to express an understanding of the culture. Methodologically, understanding the relationship between the expression of language and culture in Kebo Bule can be peeled using ethnomethodology to ethnolinguistics by utilizing ethnoscience (knowledge typically owned by ethnicity, tribe, people) to find the cultural themes of people related to their mindset and the worldview. The research data encompasses of oral and written data, verbal data sources from informants and writes from a library. The validation of the data was done by triangulation, and data analysis used ethnoscience (especially taxonomic, domain and componential analysis). Results of the discussion is presented in the form of narrative texts related to the background, the effect and meaning of Kebo Bule for the existence of the language and culture of Java in Surakarta. Keywords: ethnolinguistics; Kebo Bule; month of Sura; Surakarta INTRODUCTION Historically, up to now the informa- The existence of Kebo Bule (literally bru- tion about Kebo Bule seems to remain un- nette buffalo) has long been a phenomenal clear, there was only lack of sufficient evi- problem in the tradition of Javanese langu- dence, although many studies have been age and culture, especially in Surakarta. Its done in the areas alike. Information about phenomenality can be identified from the the Kebo Bule tends to be likely found in verbal and nonverbal expressions. Verbal oral stories without evidence that reinforces expression of Kebo Bule is identified from the figure of Kebo Bule as “the Sacred Kebo”, the language, while the nonverbal one is “the Heirloom Kebo”, “the Blessing Kebo”, identified from the historical, cultural, spi- in contrary just being speared by an igno- ritual, practical and political aspects. Ver- rant buffalo dead. Some literature sources bally, why Kebo Bule is also expressed with and oral information are obtained from the a term Kebo Slamet”, “Kyai Slamet” which communities living in Surakarta. Having is linked to the tradition of ritual ceremony done deep interview with the informants, on the evening of first month of Sura. Non- the information remains uncertain, one to verbal aspect of Kebo Bule can be identified another implies different correspondence, from the historical, cultural, spiritual, prac- instead it last with conflicting, making the tical and political aspects. object seems to remain less convincing. At Corresponding author : © 2016 Semarang State University. All rights reserved Address: Faculty of Cultural Sciences p-ISSN 2086 - 5465 | e-ISSN 2460-7320 Jl. Diponegoro, D.228, RT.08/RW.XVI Josroyo Indah Jaten Karangnyar (57771) UNNES JOURNALS Email : [email protected] Phone : 08170442080 286 Wakit Abdullah, Javanese Language and Culture in the Expression of Kebo Bule in Surakarta the end, the society can only understand and sana (1993) refers to a speaker’s intention; follow that tradition uncritically as a source the influence of language units in perception of meaningful life. Some related sources of or understanding of human behavior or hu- Kebo Bule were derived from the informants man groups. The cultural significance (cul- in the form of oral stories (folklore) and tural meaning) by Subroto (2011) refers to written source comes from the news media the meaning of a language in relation to the (books, magazines, newspapers, and inter- cultural context of society. Correspondingly, net) and serat babad. In this case, serat ba- Mahsun (2005, p. 81) mentioned many ways bad as written sources tells the “history”, but to uncover the cultural behavior of people; the writer’s subjectivity affect the story and one of them is with the use of language. Sa- fill in the account, because of the motivati- pir-Whorf (in Clark and Clark 1977) stated on customized with background, insightful that language has a significant influence on writer and writing targets. the way people think. In other words, the The oral source comes from infor- way people looked at the meaning of life is mants, both relatives of the palace and the recorded in the structure of the language. writers who tries to uncover matters related According to Dove (l985, p. xv), the to the figure of Kebo Bule. The validity of role of traditional culture is closely linked the data is also inadequately deemed to be with the social, economic and ecological scientific. The written sources related to the processes of society. Koentjaraningrat (1990, history of Kebo Bule in Surakarta has been p. 183-184 & 224) stated that culture encom- mentioned in the Babad Sala (Chronicle of passes complexities including ideas, norms, Sala). In the babad it is mentioned that the values, rules, complex patterned activity ancestors of Kebo Bule is the dearest buffalo and actions of men in society and objects of (klangenan) to Pakubuwono II on enthro- human work. Practically speaking, tradition ning at The Court of Kartasura. After mo- in a society is based on views of life, perso- ving to Surakarta, Kebo Bule remains the nal and environment or society (Geertz 198l; dearest animal1 which is considered posses- Mulder 1985; Koentjaraningrat 1984). The sing magical value related to the existence Javanese people’s way of life reflects the be- of lives in the Surakarta’s Court, both physi- lief on both the cosmo-mythical and cosmo- cally and mentally. There is an explanation magical assumptions in which the surroun- that Kebo Bule was originally a gift from the ding nature provides a powerful, influential, Duke of Ponorogo to Sunan Pakubuwana material and spiritual life of society (Mulder II, but nobody mentioned that Kebo Bule’s 1984), and depends also on each other of the offspring was the cattle of Kanjeng Sultan individual (Sunobroto 1983). Boas (in Ih- Agung Hanyakrakusuma of Mataram. This romi 1999) stated that cultural traits must means that are there significant differences be studied in the context of the society in and time inequalities? (Sultan Agung Ma- which it arises. In this case, it is the ethno- taram Hanyakrakusuma’s reign, 1613-1642; linguistic that peels relations of the Javanese whereas Sri Susuhunan Pakubuwono II reig- language and culture (the Javanese traits) in ned1711-1749). From various obtained sour- viewing Kebo Bule in Surakarta. ces historically related to figure and expres- Mindset or literal mindset of a society sion, the scientific valid data of Kebo Bule in (Ahimsa 1997; Fernandez 2009) is a public Surakarta is less assuring. Therefore, in this knowledge (cognition), among which are paper too, there are aspects need to be cri- classifications, rules, and principles were ticized further for unclear and incomplete expressed through language. Language may things, since the validity of the data remains record the state of ecological environment difficult to trace the truth to account reviews in the vicinity. Therefore, the language too scientifically. could imply various names or terms that indicate the object (noun) or work (verb) LITERATURE or nature (adjective) that exist around the The term “meaning” according to Kridalak- human’s lives. As an illustration, the Java- UNNES JOURNALS Komunitas 8 (2) (2016): 285-294 287 nese acknowledged Kebo Bule as thing as- Bule and the public assumption. This stu- sociated with the existence of the Court of dy has not yet discussed explicitly from the Surakarta. It was as summarized in the figu- ethnolinguistic perspective. Toto (2009) on re of the buffalo cattle coincidently found in Kebo Bule mentioned that Kebo Bule has a a “Caucasian colored one” and was gradu- symbolic, practical, cultural, and spiritual ally perceived to possessing a supernatural function (Toto, November 14, 2014). Then as power and other different perceptions dee- described by Yosodipuro (August 10, 2015), ming it as the unusual or weird buffalo (PC. the ancestor of this typical colored buffalo Pitana, August 20, 2016). (called bule ‘white slightly reddish’) was a In this case, the phenomenon of Kebo gift from the Duke of Ponorogo to Pakubo- Bule as an expression of cultural recount in wono II, which is applied as cucuk lampah the language of Java at the night of 1st Sura (guardian) of a heritage palace named Kyai can be criticized on its existence associated Slamet. To this day, the court of Surakarta with the relationship of language and cul- has never been willing to explain what form ture of Java. Thus, language is a system of of inheritance called “Kyai Slamet” (whet-