CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

This chapter introduces the present study. It describes rationale, research

question, objectives of the research, scope of study, methodology outline, and
clarification of terms, weight and relevance, and organization of the paper.

1.1 Rationale

Indonesia has a very diverse culture. Each culture has values that must be
followed and these values are also used as the basis to act and behave in everyday
life. Furthermore, Linton (in Digdoyo, 2015, p. 53) Culture is the entirety of the
knowledge, attitudes, and patterns of behavior that is a habit that is owned and
inherited by members of a particular community. Henceforth, Koenjaraningrat (in
Digdoyo, 2015, p. 51) proposes that culture comes from the Sanskrit word;
buddhayah, it means that the plural form of Budi (mind) and Daya means power.
Therefore, culture can be interpreted as the result of cooperation between mind
and human strength.

Indonesia consists of diverse tribes scattered across the archipelago. Geertz

(1981), an anthropologist of Indonesia, said that out of about 300 ethnic groups in
Indonesia, whereas Tuloli (2003) argue that Indonesian country has a very diverse
culture and in addition also has different tribes, each tribe to build and to develop
their culture through experiences they had experienced and also through their
knowledge.

Almost every region in Indonesia are occupied by an assortment of different

tribes. One of them is the Sundanese tribes that most of them living in West Java
and the Province of Banten. Meanwhile, Waranaen (in Suryani, 1988, p. 11) states
that the references to the sundanese tribe are those calling themselves and be
recognized by others as the Sunda. The others are referred to Sundanese tribe or
people who are not Sundanese tribe.
 In the Sundanese culture there are some traditions and customs such as a
wedding tradition in Parahyangan (West Java) are generally same. However,
there are peculiarities in each region in the implementation. Furthermore Suryani
(2011, p. 190-197) suggests the kinds of wedding tradition in Sundanese tribe: (a)
Ngalamar; (b) Seserahan; (c) Ngeuyeuk Seureuh; (d) Midadaren; (e) Akad Nikah;
(f) Nyawer; (g) Huap Lingkung; (h) Numbas.

This study research, the writer attempts to analysis a figurative meaning that
appears in jangjawokan spells from Sakerta Barat village. It’s village located in
the southern Darma district. In Sundanese society, spells is a method or idea
which expressed with words that are considered to contain magical powers and
created as a breakthrough to overcome social problems. Whereas Poerwadarminta
(1955, p. 142) states that spells known as the magical sentence. In other words,
the mantra is a sentence that carries power for spells reader.

Base on discussion above, Rosidi (in UPI Press, 2006, p. 139-140) argues that
the term Mantra comes from Indian country and Sundanese culture never used
Mantra word. So, generally Sundanese culture only use the term of Jangjawokan
as another name of Mantra.

According to Danasasmita (2006) argues that Jangjawokan or spells has been

recognized by the community of Sundanese long time ago, Jangjawokan is
another word for word Ajimantra found in the manuscript Sanghyang Siksa
Kandang Karesian, written in 1518. Furthermore Suryani (2011, p. 131) states
that Sanghyang Siksa Kandang Karesian script was written in 1440 Saka or 1518
AD, consists of 30 pieces of palm leaves, and written during the reign of Sri
Baduga Maharaja in Pakuan Padjajaran kingdom.

The author notes that in Jangjawokan or mantra there are the types based on
its function. According to Rusyana, (1997, p. 109) an expert of Sundanese modern
literature, there are at least six types of puisi-mantra in Sundanese literature : (a)
Asihan (spell for gaining people’s affection); (b) Ajian (spell for invoking
supernatural powers); (c) Singlar (spell to expel the evil); (d) Rajah (spell casted
when starting to build a house and the others); (e) Jampe (spell for healing); (f)
Jangjawokan (Spells casted in various daily activities).

By analyzing the figurative meaning especially metaphor contained in the

Jangjawokan spells as a Sundanese culture, there is some argument about the
figurative meaning. According to Harimurti (1982, p. 103) argues that transferred
meaning or Figurative meaning is the use of the word whose meaning is not true.
Furthermore, Figurative meaning is the meaning that is not consistent with the
concept contained in the word or the figurative meaning has shifted from their
actual meaning. Besides that, the word metaphor comes from Greek; it means to
carry over. Rozakis (1995, p. 33) states that a metaphor is a comparison without
the words like or as. Henceforth, According to Keraf (1991, p. 138) argues that
the metaphor is a kind of analogy that compares two things, but in the form of
very short to eliminate words like, as, as if, and so on.

1.2 Research Questions

The research question of this study is as follows:

(1) What types of Jangjawokan spells are found in Sakerta Barat village?
(2) What is metaphor found in Jangjawokan spells from Sakerta Barat village?

1.3 The Objectives of the Research

The objective of the research is follows:

(1) To find out the types of Jangjawokan spells are found in Sakerta Barat
village.
(2) To find out the metaphor which is found in Jangjawokan spells from
Sakerta Barat village.

1.4 The Scope of Study

The scope of this study is focused on the methapors and types of Jangjawokan
spells found in Darma district. According to Rusyana (2009, p. 109) an expert of
Sundanese modern literature, there are at least six types of puisi-mantra (Spells)
in Sundanese literature: (a) Asihan (spell for gaining people’s affection); (b) Ajian
(spell for invoking supernatural powers); (c) Singlar (spell to expel the evil); (d)
Rajah (spell casted when starting to build a house and the others); (e) Jampe (spell
for healing); (f) Jangjawokan (Spells casted in various daily activities).

1.5 Methodology Outline

This study uses qualitative method by using qualitative method. According to

(Moleong, 2007, p. 3) argues that qualitative methodology is a research procedure
that produces descriptive data in the form of written or spoken from the people
and observed behavior.

One of the significant factors in the research is collecting the data that can
determine the result of the research. For completing the data, the writer interviews
and recorded some important things from interviewee. After the data have been
collected, the next step is to analysis them to find out figurative meaning.

Here is the example of Analyzing data about sundanese spells or

Jangjawokan found in Sakerta Barat village.

Bissmillah
Sukma eling
Badan turu
Ati tanghi
Sukma madep ka rohmatullah lailahailalloh.
The expression in the last stanza is a metaphor. The purposes of the last
stanza in the Jangjawokan spell above, that is because poetry makers equate God's
name with the word rohmatulloh (The Mercy of God) lailahailalloh (Allah
Almighty). Based on the previous explanations regarding the Jangjawokan spell
above, it indicates that the maker of that spell has embraced Islam.
1.6 Clarification of the Terms

The study concerns about the types of meaning in Sundanese spells are found in
Darma district which include the following terms:

 Jangjawokan
Jangjawokan the term of Sundanese culture as spells. In Sundanese
society, spells is a method or idea as an affirmation of a particular purpose
is expressed with words that are considered to contain magical powers and
were created as a breakthrough to overcome social problems. Incantations
or spells are oral poetry that is magical. Furtermore, Poerwadarminta
(1955, p. 142) stated that spell known as the magical sentence. In other
words, the Mantra is a sentence that carries power for spells reader.
 Figurative Meaning
Harimurti (1982, p. 103) argues that transferred meaning or Figurative
meaning is the use of the word whose meaning is not true.
 Metaphor
The word metaphor comes from Greek; it means to carry over. Rozakis
(1995, p. 33) states that a metaphor is a comparison without the words like
or as.

1.7 Weight and Relevance

The results of this research are expected to be useful and can give beneficial
contributions both theoretically and practically.

1) Theoretically
 This research can be useful to enrich in English knowledge. Especially, in
semantic which is the branch of linguistics that studies of meaning
contained in a language, code, or any others types of representation. In
other words, semantics is the study of meaning.
2) Practically
This research can be used as information about the investigation of
meaning and give deeper understanding as the references to the other
researcher.

1.8 Organization of the Paper

Chapter I consists of rationale, research questions, the objectives of research,

scope of the study, methodology outline, clarification of terms, weight and
relevance, and organization of the papers. Chapter II mainly explores the research
consists theories of semantic, figurative meaning, metaphor, description of
Sundanese spells or known as Jangjawokan , and kinds of Jangjawokan. Chapter
III describes the methods of the research, method of data collecting, method and
study technique, data research, and the data analysis method.