EcoLinguistic Insights in Nias Village Name: Unravelling the Dynamic Bond Between Language and Environment

Wisman  Hadi; Mulyono Mulyono

doi:10.31849/reila.v5i3.13552

Wisman Hadi Universitas Negeri Medan, Medan, Indonesia
Mulyono Mulyono Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Surabaya, Indonesia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.31849/reila.v5i3.13552

Keywords: EcoLinguistic, Ecological elements, Language and environment, Language and ethnicity, Semantic, Village names

Abstract

Ecological structures hold profound significance in the identification and naming of localities within Nias villages. This significance underscores the dynamic bond between language and the environment, forming a foundational aspect of the local ethnicity. This study endeavors to delve into the ecological significance that underpins the naming of Nias villages, elucidating the intricate connection between language and the environment upon which village names are founded. In pursuit of this objective, the research engages with a purposive sample of 20 informants, representing 151 localities within Nias. Through in-depth interviews, valuable insights are gathered and transcribed to constitute the research data. Employing a descriptive qualitative design, the study leverages a semantic representation protocol to categorize data according to the ecological units embedded in the village names. The investigation's findings reveal that the Nias villages predominantly employ the Nias language lexicon. Notably, 55 villages incorporate the lexicon "hili" denoting 'hill or mountain,' such as "Hilimbana" ('hill-kapuk tree') and "Hiliweto Gela" ('hill-bees'). Additionally, the names incorporate ecological elements such as vegetation, rivers, animals, equipment, events, supernatural objects, and numbers. These names reflect the deep integration of ecological elements into the local community's cultural identity and highlight the rich ecological diversity of the region. The study emphasizes the importance of understanding the cultural and ecological connections in village names for the preservation of Nias Regency's heritage and the promotion of ecological awareness. Further research avenues include exploring the socio-cultural significance of village names and investigating the impact of language on environmental conservation efforts. Understanding the intricate relationship between language, culture, and the environment is crucial for sustainable development and the preservation of cultural and ecological heritage in Nias Regency.

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Author Biographies

Wisman Hadi, Universitas Negeri Medan, Medan, Indonesia

Wisman Hadi is the Head of the Postgraduate Indonesian Language Education Master's Study Program at Medan State University. His research and published works have had a broad impact on language education, especially in the North Sumatra region. He has published many articles and research papers in several national and international journals. He has also presented several papers at national, regional and international conferences. He also wrote several books. In his duties as a lecturer, he gives lectures on general linguistics, phonology, semantics, applied linguistics, discourse analysis, pragmatics, ecolinguistics, language education, Indonesian language learning for foreign speakers, forensic linguistics, and language research methods. Apart from that, he also often acts as a language expert witness in the police and in court. He is also active as a resource person at various teacher training activities in the North Sumatra Region.

Mulyono Mulyono, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Surabaya, Indonesia

Mulyono is an Associate Professor and Lecturer in the Department of Language and Literature at Surabaya State University. His research interests span Theoretical Linguistics, Syntax, Morphology, Language Acquisition and Learning, and Sociolinguistics, with a current focus on Ecolinguistics. He has published extensively in both national and international journals and has presented his research at various conferences worldwide. In addition to his research, he teaches courses in General Linguistics, Semantics, Syntax, Applied Linguistics, Language Education, Indonesian Language Learning for Foreign Speakers, and Language Research Methods.

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