Translating the sacred text Petunjuk Jalen of the Orang Lom indigenous community in Bangka: a semiotics analysis

This research examines how the Orang Lom sacred text, the Petunjuk Jalen, and the rituals surrounding it convey the community’s beliefs, values, and social cohesion. This analysis draws on Yuri Lotman’s (1990) semiotic theory to examine how the symbolic structures within the text mediate relationships between the sacred, the individual, and the wider social world. This study employs a qualitative research design, with data obtained through interviews. This study argues that the Petunjuk Jalen functions as a semiotic system that strengthens spirituality, fosters communal identity, and shapes the Orang Lom’s understanding of the relationship between God and humankind. The findings indicate that the Petunjuk Jalen embodies a profound sense of holiness and spiritual aspiration, particularly the hope that the spirit will be received by God and attain peace. Overall, the text demonstrates how language, emotion, and tradition remain deeply intertwined in the spiritual practices of the community.