LOCAL WISDOM IN JAVANESE PROVERBS (A COGNITIVE LINGUISTIC APPROACH)

Abstract

Proverbs are expressions representing views and values in creating harmonious and successful life. This paper is to investigate the local wisdom in Javanese proverbs. Nonparticipant observation method with note-taking technique is used to collect the data. To analyze the data, I used distributional, identity, and inferencial methods. From the analysis, I found that there are some values among other things related with the Javanese views on social and cultural diversity, self control and management in individual, social, and spiritual life. There are four levels of meaning the proverbs convey, i.e literal, cognitive, literary, and cultural, since they represent concepts for conceptualizing. The concepts are related with nature, body organ, building, motion, space, visual experience, habit, cosmology, number, family relationship, country, God, container, shape. This implies that language in this case Javanese proverbs can preserve human’s experiences and habits that may lose in another decade due to social dynamicity and natural changes. The loss may happen along with the loss of the language. Therefore, there must be some efforts to preserve the language upholding them.