The Semiotics of Pamali: Indigenous Character Education in the Makassar-Gowa Community
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59175/pijed.v4i2.780Keywords:
Barthesian Semiotics, Cultural Taboos (Pamali), Local Moral Wisdom, Makassar Indigenous CultureAbstract
This study employs Roland Barthes’ semiotic framework to analyze the types and layered meanings of Pamali (cultural taboos) within the Makassar-Gowa community of Indonesia. Using a case study with a descriptive qualitative design, data were collected through interviews, field observations, and document analysis. The findings revealed five categories of Pamali: Bad-Luck/Fortune, Sacred-Place, Manners & Social-Ethics, Attitudinal, and Religious/Time-Bound. Barthesian analysis demonstrates that these prohibitions operate at denotative (literal prohibition), connotative (moral/cultural value), and mythic (ideological) levels, functioning as an indigenous system of character education. The study concludes that Pamali was a dynamic semiotic pedagogy, transmitting values of respect, responsibility, and social harmony. This research offers a model for integrating local wisdom into culturally responsive education curricula.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Sulastri Sulastri, Ratnawati Ratnawati, Abdollah Abdollah, Luthfiah Nurhuda Watri, Hakan Syukur
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