The Ecolinguistics of Malay Langkat Mantra

Abstract

This paper deals with the description of ecolinguistics on Malay Langkat mantra. The main objective of this paper is to explore especially the Malay Langkat mantra (especially those related to traditional medications) on the basis of the ecolinguistic study. Malay Langkat mantra was very popular amongst the Malay Langkat society in the past. The mantra was used by traditional medicine man called pawang/bomoh/dukun. He commonly has supernatural ability in medicating the local society in almost all kinds of diseases. The medication man has his own specific mantra for specific diseases and it is believed by the society that the diseases will relieve soon after the medication man read the mantra. The mantra themselves consist of short sentences in the forms of traditional poetry. They sometimes used words or phrases taken from the nature (flora and fauna)