The Role of Language in The Folklore Si Pahit Lidah as a Culture-Based Character Education Media in South Sumatra

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the discourse structure in the folk tale Si Pahit Lidah and identify the local culture-based character education values contained within it. Teun A. van Dijk’s model can be used to analyze the folktale “Si Pahit Lidah” by examining its text structure, language use, and social context to reveal the moral values, cultural beliefs, ideology, and local wisdom reflected in the society of South Sumatra, particularly in how the story conveys messages about behavior, social norms, supernatural power, and the consequences of human actions. This his study uses a qualitative method with a discourse analysis approach based on Teun A. Van Dijk's model. The data collection technique was carried out through documentation and note-taking techniques, while data analysis used an interactive model that includes data reduction, data presentation, and drawing conclusions. The results of the study show that the discourse structure in the story of Si Pahit Lidah consists of narrative, cohesion, and coherence aspects. The narrative structure includes intrinsic elements such as theme, characters, plot, and setting, which build the story systematically. Cohesion is seen through the use of references, conjunctions, repetition, substitution, and ellipsis that create text unity, while coherence is shown through cause-and-effect relationships, chronology, explanations, as well as continuity of meaning between sentences. Moreover, this story contains values of character education such as responsibility, self-control, wisdom, and social care that reflect the local wisdom of the South Sumatran community. Thus, the folk tale Si Pahit Lidah can be utilized as a source of local culture-based learning in character education.