DANCER GESTURES IN GANDRUNG JAVANESE TRADITIONAL DANCE:
THE ANALYSIS ON THE MEANING OF SYMBOLS
THESIS
ANNA SOVIA
ENGLISH EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF MUHAMMADIYAH MALANG
i
DANCER GESTURES IN GANDRUNG JAVANESE TRADITIONAL DANCE:
AN ANALYSIS ON THE MEANING OF SYMBOLS
THESIS
This thesis is submitted to meet one of the requirements to
achieve Sarjana Degree in English Education
ANNA SOVIA
09360087
ENGLISH EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF MUHAMMADIYAH MALANG
iv
MOTTO AND DEDICATION
نْيرباصلا عم ه نإ ةاصلا رْبصلاب ا ْ نْيعتْسا ا نمآ نْيذلا ا يأ اي
“Oh you who believe! Seek help with patient perseverance and prayer,
for Allah is with those who
patiently preserve”
(Q.S. Al-Baqarah: 153).
*Happiness comes when we stop complaining about the difficulties we
face, and grateful for the hardship befall us*
DEDICATION:
I dedicated this thesis to:
My beloved Mother and Father
My Brothers
My best friends forever
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
In the name of Allah SWT the Merciful and Beneficent. Alhamdulillah, this
thesis has been completed with the blessing of Merciful and Almighty, Allah SWT. It
is a pleasure for the writer to express her sincere gratitude to all who have helped to
complete this thesis. Without their helps, this thesis would not complete in its present
form.
The writer would like to express her deepest gratitude to Puji Sumarsono,
M.Ed., M.Pd. her first advisor and Drs. Jarum, M.Ed, her second advisor, for their
suggestion, correction, invaluable guidance and advice during the writing of this
thesis. Her sincere gratitude and appreciation are also extended to the informant,
Hatta Jamal, who had been willing to provide the information about
‘Barodak’
ceremony, and all of Poto Village society who had given her opportunity to conduct
the research.
A special thanks goes to her beloved mother (Rustini), father (Suharsono), her
brothers (Firhad & Bilal) who always give her great motivation, love and both
spiritual and financial supports, her best friends (Eko, Ayu, Silvi, Nisa, Wiwit) who
always give affection and help when the writer is in the sadness and happiness.
In addition, the writer also would like to give her thanks to the big family of
B-Brother English 2009, for their encouragement, love, care, and pray so that she can
finish this thesis. Thanks for togetherness we had. Finally, the writer hopes that this
thesis will be useful for the readers.
Malang, April 2014
vi
DANCER GESTURES IN GANDRUNG JAVANESE TRADITIONAL DANCE:
AN ANALYSIS ON THE MEANING OF SYMBOLS
ABSTRACT
People use language to share ideas, to express the feelings, and to
communicate with other people. They communicate through spoken or written
language or even gestures. Peoples’ language is close it related to culture. Traditional
dance is one of cultures which are inherited for generations. Traditional dance such as
Gandrung
Javanese traditional dance involves the movement of all parts of the body
or gestures that have meaning.
The purposes of this study were to describe the gestures used by the dancer in
Gandrung
Javanese traditional dance and to describe the meanings of the gestures
used by the dancer in
Gandrung
Javanese traditional dance.
This study used qualitative as the research design because the writer used the
word to answer the research questions by using interview and observation as the
instruments and to describe the social phenomena related to the meaning of the
gestures used by the dancer in
Gandrung
Javanese traditional dance.
The finding showed that the gestures used by the dancer in
Gandrung
Javanese traditional dance were
sagah, ngalang, ngeber, ngayun, ngimplas, nantang,
and
ninggul.
The meanings of the gestures used by the dancer in
Gandrung
Javanese
traditional dance are:
Sagah
means to express Banyuwangi people’s suff
ering,
ngalang
means to express the suffering which is experienced by the family who was
left for war,
ngeber
means that children who lost their fathers help their mother to
support their life economically either by herding the sheep or planting the beans,
ngayun
means to symbolize the unpleasantness which is caused by hypocrite which is
very dangerous,
ngimplas
means to symbolize the hypocrites who are very cruel,
nantang
means to symbolize warriors who have bravery against oppression, injustice,
and the like, and
ninggul
means that warriors ask for permission to the great man
whom they respect to war.
In conclusion, the gesture of
Gandrung
of Javanese traditional dance consists
of various types of gestures and each gesture contains full of meaning which tell the
valuable and historical story.
Key words
: Sagah, Ngalang, Ngeber, Ngayun, Ngimplas, Nantang, and Ninggul.
The Advisor I,
The Writer,
vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
COVER ... i
APPROVAL... ii
LEGALIZATION ... iii
MOTTO AND DEDICATION ... iv
ACKNOWLEDGGEMENTS... v
ABSTRACT ... vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS ... vii
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ... 1
1.1
Background of Study ... 1
1.2
Statement of Problem ... 4
1.3
Purpose of Study ... 4
1.4
Scope and Limitation ... 5
1.5
Significance of Study ... 5
1.6
Definition of Key Terms ... 6
CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE ... 7
2.1 Language and Culture ... 7
2.2 Linguistics ... 10
2.3 Semiotics ... 11
2.4 Symbols... 12
2.4.1 Kinds of Symbol ... 13
viii
2.4.1.2 Private Symbol ... 13
2.4.1.3 Conventional Symbol ... 14
2.5 Sumbawa’s Traditional Wedding
Process ... 14
2.5.1
Bajajak ... 15
2.5.2
Bakatoan ... 15
2.5.3
Basaputes ... 15
2.5.4
Badaq ... 16
2.5.5
Bakengkam/ Tama Kengkam ... 16
2.5.6
‘Barodak’ Ceremony
...
16
2.5.7
Nyorong ... 18
2.5.8
Nikah ... 19
2.5.9
PangantanNgiring ... 19
2.5.10
Basai ... 19
2.7 Current Literature Relevant to the Research Questions ... 20
CHAPTER IIIRESEARCH METHODOLOGY ... 21
3.1 Research Design... 21
3.2 Research Object ... 21
3.3 Informant... 22
3.4 Research Instrument... 22
3.4.1. Observation ... 23
3.4.2 Interview ... 23
3.5 Data ... 24
ix
3.7 Data Analysis ... 25
CHAPTER IV RESEARCH FINDING AND DISCUSSION ... 26
4.1 Finding ... 26
4.1.1 The Kinds of Symbols Used in ‘
Barodak’
Ceremony ... 26
4.1.2
The Meaning of the Symbols Used in ‘
Barodak
’ Ceremony
.. 29
4.2 Discussion ... 33
4.2.1 The Symbols Related to Islam ... 34
4.2.2 The Symbols Related to Mystical Things ... 36
CHAPTER V CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION ... 38
5.1 Conclusion ... 38
5.2 Suggestion ... 39
BIBLIOGRAPHY ... 41
APPENDIX I
APPENDIX II
APPENDIX III
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Fromkin, Victoria, et.al. 2010.
An Introduction to Language.
Wasworth. Cengage
Learning.
Matsumoto, David. 1996.
Culture and Psychology.
San Francisco State University.
Pease, Allan. 1988.
Body Language: How to read others’ thoughts by their gestures
.
Sheldon Press. London.
Samovar, Larry A. and Porter, Richard E. 2001. Communication Between Cultures.
Wadsworth.
Kottak, Conrad Philip. 1991.
Cultural Anthropology; Fifth Edition.
US: Mc.
Graw-Hill, Inc.
Brakel, Clara and Ppenhuyzen. 1995.
Classical Javanese Dance.
KITLV Press.
Dariharto. 2009.
Kesenian Gandrung Banyuwangi.
Dinas Kebudayaan dan Pariwisata
Kabupaten Banyuwangi.
Crhristiana, Yanti. 2005.
Body Language in Gambyong and Srimpi as The Javanese
Traditional
Dances.
Unpublished
Thesis.
Malang.
University
of
Muhammadyah Malang.
Wardhaugh, Ronald. 2006.
An Introduction to Sociolinguistics FIFTH EDITION
.
Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Binkert, Peter J. 2003.
Linguistic Analysis.
Rochester, Michigan. Oakland University.
Callander, Nichola and Nahmad-Williams, Lindy. 2010.
Communication, Language
and Literacy.
British Library Cataloguing
Baker, Anne E. and Hengeveld, Kees. 2012.
Linguistic.
Amsterdam.
Wiley-Blackwell.
Crystal, David. 2009.
A Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics.
Holyhead.
Blackwell.
Kearns, Kate. 2000.
Semantics.
New Zealand. Macmillan Press Ltd.
Riemer, Nick. 2010.
Introducing Semantics.
Cambridge University Press.
Trask, R. L. 2007.
Key Concept in Language and Linguistics.
Routledge.
McNeill, David. 2000.
Language and Gesture.
Cambridge University Press.
Ary, Donald, et. al. 2010.
Introduction to Research in Education
;
8th Edition
.
Canada: Wadsworth.
(E-book)
1 CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
This chapter describes the background of the study, the statement of the
problem, the purpose of the study, the significance of the study, the scope and
limitation, and the definition of the key term.
1.1 Background of Study
Language is important in human life as a means to express the ideas in a
social communication. People use language to share ideas, to express the feelings,
and to communicate with other people. The information can be transferred
through spoken or written language or even gestures. Callander and Lindy (2010)
stated that language is a systematic use of symbols to enable us to communicate
meaning to one another. Moreover, facial expressions, body languages, gestures,
and vocalizations contribute significantly to communication. As a medium of
expressing the ideas and feelings, language has very close relationship with
culture.
Culture cannot be separated from the society. Culture is the identity of a
particular group. The word culture has many definitions. It refers to an art, belief,
behaviors, race, ritual, tradition, etc. According to Matsumoto (1996: 16),
“Culture as the set of attitudes, values, belief, and behaviors shared by a group of
people, but different for each individual, communicated from one generation to
the next.” It means culture is all of things or activities done by a group of people
inherited from generation to generation.
This definition is almost similar to the definition stated by Samovar and
2 behavior which is transmitted from one generation to another with the purpose of
promoting individual and social survival, adaptation, growth, and development. It
means culture teaches us how to behave and how to interact in a group. Learning
culture can help us to adapt and survive in our environment. Further, culture is a
symbol of regionalism that has significance for the owner. It can be defined that
culture is the “identity” of a particular group. Culture and language had
relationship each other. Language, which is used in society also reflects the
culture of the society. Every society has different culture. So, the using of
language is different too.
In using language, people sometimes use body languages as a means of
communication. Body language could be applied in any communication, whether
it is conversation, drama, theater, or even dance. Body language in dance is about
the whole body speaks. Body language is non-verbal movements as a part of how
we communicate.
Gesture refers to specific body languages that carry meaning. As Pease
(1988) said, gesture is like a single word and a word may have several different
meanings. According to Samovar and Richad (2001: 175), “Gesture can
communicate different meanings from culture to culture.” It means, one gesture
has different meaning in different country. For example, the way someone say
“OK”. In United Stated, people say the word “OK” by making a circle with one’s
thumb in index finger while extending the others. But it has different meaning in
Japan in Korea; it signifies money (okane). While in Mexico and Germany, and to
3 Gesture is also a symbol; between gesture and symbols are related to each
other. According to Pease (1988: 13), “Gesture comes in ‘sentences’ and
invariably tells the truth about a person’s feelings or attitudes.” Symbol is
something like a thing, a sign, or a word that is spoken or through movement to
convey a meaning. According to Kottak (1991: 40), “A symbol is something
verbal or non-verbal, within a particular language or culture that comes to stand
for something else.” So, a symbol is difficult to understand, because it has various
meanings and connotations. It will have a meaning through the agreement of the
society as the user.
Symbol can be found in traditional dances. It can be seen from the
movements that each of those has meaning. For example, there are several
symbols used in some dances, such as symbols of clothes, offerings, and gestures.
Each dance has different symbol like symbols found in Javanese traditional dance.
Javanese traditional dance is one of dances that involve body language through
the movement. It is also a culture in Java which is part of Indonesia, it develops
from the past to the present that reflects Javanese daily life.
Javanese traditional dance involves by the movement of all parts of the
body that have meaning. It is considered a legacy of Java community. In the past
time, particularly in East Java, the dance was performed in the palace by people
who have been associated with the royal family. It served as a means of
ceremonies, for example, to celebrate important events. Now, Javanese traditional
dance is performed on stage but the movements still convey the message.
4 usually called as classical dance is a medium for expressing ideas, values, and
problems which are shared by the Javanese as a group of people.
One of the traditional dances of Java is Gandrung dance. Gandrung comes from the word “Gandrung”, which means “crazy” or “love all-out” in Javanese. According to Dariharto (2009), Gandrung Javanese traditional dance is a kind of dance dominated by the typical of Banyuwangi region located at the eastern tip of
Java Island, and it becomes the identity of the region. Therefore, Banyuwangi is
also called Gandrung City.
Related to the analysis of gesture on traditional dance, there was a research
conducted by Christina (1999) entitled Body Language in Gambyong and Srimpi
as the Javanese traditional dances, it was found that those dances have meaning in
each movement. The result of Christina’s study showed that there were several of
body languages in the Gambyong and Srimpi dances. In Gambyong dance there were Srisig or Trisik, Ulap-Ulap or Ulat-Ulatan, Ngroe Remo, and Laku Telu. In Srimpi dance there were Sembahan or Mangenjali, Laras, Srisig or Sirig, Sawega,
and Nancap.
Regarding to the explanation above, the writer intends to investigate the
Gandrung Javanese traditional dance, especially the gestures used by the dancer in Gandrung Javanese traditional dance. The writer is interested to analyze this study because not all of Banyuwangi society knows the meaning of the gestures used by the dancer in Gandrung Javanese traditional dance. So, it is very important to show to all of society what the meanings of each gestures used by the
5
1.2 Statement of Problems
Based on the background of the study, the writer has two problems that are
formulated in the following questions:
1. What kind of gestures are used by the dancer in Gandrung Javanese traditional dance?
2. What are the meanings of the gestures used by the dancer in Gandrung
Javanese traditional dance?
1.3 Purpose of Study
In general, the purpose of the study is to understand the meaning of the
gestures used by the dancer in Gandrung Javanese traditional dance. While the specific purpose of the study are:
1. To describe the gestures used by the dancer in Gandrung Javanese traditional dance.
2. To describe the meanings of the gestures used by the dancer in Gandrung
Javanese traditional dance.
1.4 Significance of Study
The result of the study is expected to give contribution for:
1. English Department Students
The result of this study can be used as one of references when they
conduct the research related to Linguistics.
2. The reader
The reader will get a clear description and explanation about the meaning
6 3. The next researcher
The result of this present study can be used by English Department
students who want to analyze gestures in different dance, it also can be
inspiring study.
1.5 Scope and Limitation
This study is focused on the three steps of gesture used by the dancer in
Gandrung Javanese traditional dance. The first step is jejer, the second is ngibing, and the last is seblang subuh. Arts performance Gandrung Javanese traditional dance always starts after the implementation of prayers Isya' and to be completed
before the dawn so as not offend the implementation of worship for Muslims.
Therefore, in this study, the writer limits on the first step that is jejer.
1.6 Definition of Key Terms
The definition of key terms given in this study aims to avoid
misconceptions used. The term which are necessary to be defined are as follows:
1. Gesture is a form of non-verbal communication made with a part of the
body, and used instead of verbal communication (or in combination with
it) (WordIQ.com: 2010).
2. Symbol is something verbal or nonverbal, within a particular language or
culture that comes to stand for something else (Kottak: 1991).
3. Traditional Javanese dance or usually call by classical dance is a
medium for expressing ideas, values, and problem which are shared by the
Javanese as a group of people (Brakel and Papenhuyzen: 1995).
4. Gandrung Javanese traditional dance is a kind of dance that is
7 of Java Island, and it became the identity of the region. It has three steps of
gesture used by the dancer in Gandrung Javanese traditional dance. The first step is jejer, the second is ngibing, and the last is seblang subuh
(Dariharto: 2009).
