PRESERVATION OF TERNATE'S MARITIME LEXICON: AN ECOLINGUISTIC STUDY OF THE DUFA-DUFA COASTAL COMMUNITY

Abstract

This study examines the preservation of maritime lexicon in the coastal community of Dufa-Dufa, Ternate, from an ecolinguistics perspective. It focuses on maritime terms that community members still recognize and use, the ecological meanings embedded in those terms, intergenerational shifts in their use, and community-based preservation strategies. The study adopts a descriptive qualitative micro-case-study design. In this model, the interview data are organized around six informant profiles representing active fishers, senior speakers, a young participant, a teacher, and a community leader. The data are analysed thematically by classifying maritime terms into maritime activities, fishing gear, sea conditions, weather signs, marine biota, social actors, and fish-processing practices. The findings indicate that maritime lexicon not only names objects and activities but also preserves ecological knowledge of winds, currents, fishing seasons, safety at sea, and ethical relationships with the marine environment. Nevertheless, local maritime terms are used less frequently by younger speakers because of occupational change, the dominance of Indonesian, formal education, social media, and increasing reliance on technology. The study concludes that preserving the Dufa-Dufa maritime lexicon requires community-based documentation, a concise glossary, audio recordings, educational videos, and integration into local-content education.