Memahami Komunikasi Bertetangga dalam Lingkungan Multietnis di Kampung Petolongan Semarang

Abstract

This study is an attempt to see how the neighborhood communication experience in a multi-ethnic environment along with intercultural communication inhibitor in it. Kampung Petolongan is a settlement that has existed for a long time in the city of Semarang with a population consisting of four ethnicities, namely Javanese, Chinese, Koja, and Arab. Aspects of neighborhood communication experience which highlighted in this study are familiarity with their neighbors, the nature of the relationship between neighbors, and communicating social control. The theory used in this research are Communal (and Exchange) Relationship Theory and the concepts of gemeinschaft (community) and gesellschaft (society). This research is phenomenological research using interpretive paradigm and a phenomenological communication tradition. The results of this study indicate that the residents of Kampung Petolongan know each other's neighbors within a certain spectrum of information. Ranging from the names of their neighbors, the names of their neighbor’s family members, jobs, daily routines, ethnic backgrounds, and traditions that are still carried out by their neighbors. Information on ethnic background is obtained through observable information such as physical characteristics that are generally known, the language they used, and the dialect of the language they used. The nature of the relationship between neighbors in Kampung Petolongan is an informal relationship which is dominated by informal interactions between them, with occasional formal interactions such as when residential meeting in their neighborhood. Social control is communicated in the form of an invitation to be more active in event participation within their neighborhood as well as advice given to other residents. When the problems they encounter developed into a stage that threatens their personal safety, the police are involved in social control in accordance with the constitution. Intercultural communication inhibitor is in the form of prejudice and stereotypes towards an ethnic group. This study concludes that aspects of the neighborhood communication experience in the multiethnic environment in Kampung Petolongan indicate that the relationship which formed between its residents are communal. Although it is a gemeinschaft (community), but aspects of social control that exist are more likely toward gesselschaft (society) when the problems faced by residents have threatened their personal safety.