An Ethnosemantic Study of the ‘Teknofak’ Lexicon in Biak Culture Based on Visual Data from the Wereldmuseum Collection

Abstract

This study aims to identify and describe the technological lexicon within Biak culture and to uncover the relationship between the form, function, use and cultural significance of artefacts through an ethnosemantic approach. The study employs a qualitative approach with a linguistic ethnography design. The research data consists of visual data on artefacts from the Wereldmuseum collection and verbal data obtained through observation and in-depth interviews with six native speakers of the Biak language. The analysis was conducted through the stages of identification, classification based on the type and function of the artefacts, and ethnosemantic analysis. The results of the study indicate the existence of 20 techno-factual lexical items representing various aspects of Biak society’s life, including protection, rituals, food processing, personal care, fishing, jewellery, and traditional boat technology. Each lexical item is linked to the material characteristics, function, method of use, and cultural context of the artefact. The analysis indicates that techno-factual lexicons not only serve to name objects but also represent the knowledge, values, identity, experiences and cultural conceptions of the Biak community. These findings underscore the importance of documenting techno-factual lexicons as part of efforts to preserve the language and ensure the sustainability of the Biak community’s cultural knowledge.