Metaphorical Symbols of Animals as Cultural Attributes of Wife-Giver and Wife-Taker in Affinal kinship of Manggarai Society

Abstract

This study describes animal metaphorical symbols as cultural attributes of wife-giver and wife-taker in affinal kinship of Manggarai society. The study is descriptive-qualitative. The study is viewed from the perspective of cultural linguistics, one the new theoretical perspectives in cognitive linguistics exploring the relationship of language, culture, and conceptualization. The animal metaphorical symbols are reflected in linguistic phenomena used in the cultural discourse of marriage in Manggarai language, as seen in the following fragment: Eme ela, ela muing, eme manuk, manuk muing. Neka ela ngong manuk, neka manuk ngong ela ‘If it is a pig, it must be a real pig, if it is a chicken, it must be a real chicken. Don’t say a pig if it is a chicken, don’t say a chicken if it is a pig’. The forms and meanings of linguistic phenomena are specific to Manggarai culture designating animal metaphorical symbols as cultural attributes of wife-giver and wife-taker in affinal kinship  of Manggarai society. The kinds of animals used symbols are ela ‘pig’ as cultural attribute of the anak-rona as wife-giver and manuk ‘chicken’ as cultural attribute of the anak-wina as wife-taker. The meanings designate customary norms inherited from their ancestors that prohibit the sons of the anak-rona as wife-giver to get married with the girls of the anak-wina as wife-taker. The marriage of opposite direction is incest because it violates customary norms inherited from their ancestors. The animal metaphorical symbols are moral and ethical guidelines for Manggarai society to maintain harmonious relationship of affinal kinship and to enhance the stability of social system as a whole.