Indonesian EFL Journal
Vol. 12 No. 2 (2026)

UNCOVERING IDEOLOGY AND NOBILITY IN THE MUNA FOLK TALE KARAMBAU KAINSEDODO: A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF HEREDITARY AUTHORITY AND TEXTUAL MEDIATION

Ela Martisa (English Literature, Faculty of Humanity, Universitas Halu Oleo)
Dahlia Husain (English Literature, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universitas Muhammadiyah Gorontalo)



Article Info

Publish Date
09 Jun 2026

Abstract

This study examines the Muna folktale Karambau Kainsedodo as a cultural discourse that constructs hereditary authority, moral legitimacy, and noble identity. Previous studies on Indonesian folklore have mostly focused on moral values, themes, or cultural preservation, while limited attention has been given to how regional folktales reproduce ideology through linguistic choices and translation. This study aims to analyze how power relations and moral legitimacy are constructed in the tale, how ideological markers are mediated across Muna, Indonesian, and English versions, and how characters embody hereditary authority within Muna social ideology. This study used a qualitative design with Fairclough’s three-dimensional Critical Discourse Analysis, covering textual analysis, discursive practice, and social practice. The findings show that noble identity is constructed through titles, evaluative expressions, hospitality formulas, coercive commands, symbolic opposition, and ancestral invocation. Translation preserves the main narrative structure but reduces the cultural density of key terms such as kolaki. The folktale functions not only as a moral story but also as a discourse that legitimizes hereditary authority and demonstrates how translation mediates indigenous ideology. The findings may support culturally sensitive translation and the use of local folktales in English literature and EFL learning.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

pub

Publisher

Subject

Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media

Description

The scopes of the journal include critical issues of educational practices in primary, secondary and tertiary education as well as in university level surrounding: English Language Pedagogy Language Acquisition Bilingualism and Multilingualism English language Literacy English for Specific Purposes ...