Excavating Values and Character through Angkola-Mandailing Proverbs

Abstract

ABSTRACT
It has been undeniable that language variety makes Indonesia world-widely recognized as a unity in
diversity country. Language itself is projected to build harmony among other through social
interaction. In Indonesia, such interactions are commonly beautified with the existences of culturalbased proverbs. As an ethnic group, Angkola-Mandailing (AM) society has been known with its
uniqueness in conducting the proverbs in any traditional event, both joyful celebration (siriaon) and
condolences one (siluluton). Even, in any casual interaction among the citizen. AM proverbs are
highly considered as philosophical and culturally valuable. This research is pointed to describe the
functions of proverbs and excavating values and character within AM proverbs. Descriptivequalitative was conducted to analyze the data. Further, ethnographic content analysis was also
employed to interpret the substances of data analysis. The findings show that AM proverbs are
functioned to address advice, to admonish, and to satirize. Moreover, the findings also display that
brotherhood, togetherness, patience, hard-work, sincerity, and respect other people are values and
characters could be drawn within. To be concluded, the findings are worthwhile to be internalized at
present.
Keywords: Angkola-Mandailing, proverbs, social functions, interpretations