Revitalizing the Alam Roh Legend through Short Story Adaptation in Indonesian Language Learning: Cultural Memory, Religious Beliefs, and Nationalism
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15408/mimbar.v43i2.54601Keywords:
Alam Roh Legend, Literary adaptation, Cultural memory, Religious beliefs, Nationalism values, Intangible cultural heritage educationAbstract
Oral traditions preserve historical memories, religious beliefs, and cultural identities across generations, yet how oral legends are transformed into literary works for language learning remains underexplored. Drawing on Assmann’s cultural memory, Ong’s orality and literacy, and Hutcheon’s theory of adaptation, this qualitative case study examines the revitalization of the Alam Roh Legend from South Kalimantan through short story adaptation in Indonesian language learning. The method involved interviews with five informants, observation, documentation, written sources, and expert review, together with a questionnaire completed by 36 Grade XI students and brief student interviews. The results show that the legend intertwines memories of the Physical Revolution with Banjar Islamic beliefs, including the authority of ulama (Islamic religious scholars), wafak associated with spiritual protection, and a bathing ritual for fighters. The adaptation retained key figures, places, events, and protective beliefs while unifying the setting, adding dialogue, and adopting third-person narration, presenting community beliefs as part of the community’s worldview rather than as historical facts. Students’ responses to seven nationalism values were positive (M = 3.91–4.24), highest for courage and lowest for national identity grounded in local culture. Literary adaptation can thus serve as an intermediary stage between community storytelling and classroom learning.
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