<![CDATA[Disaster management plays an important role in protecting communities from natural hazards, especially in West Sumatra. This research explored how the local wisdom and knowledge of the Minangkabau, especially as expressed in proverbs and kaba (folklore), can enhance disaster management in West Sumatra. Based on a self-compiled corpus of 50 kaba texts totaling over 800,000 words, the research examined lexical items related to abiotic elements, climate and weather, and human-environment interactions, revealing how the environment is conceptualized and utilized in indigenous knowledge systems. The results indicate that these proverbs convey practical wisdom, moral values, and communal principles relevant to contemporary disaster management programs, emphasizing the significance of concerted effort, cooperation, and adaptation in response to adversity. This research also highlighted that when disaster risk reduction principles are reiterated in disaster communication using culturally relevant language, both the concepts and strategies become more accessible and tangible, thus supporting communities’ better application of key principles. The findings suggest that including these sociolinguistic and cultural factors into existing disaster management frameworks can lead to locally appropriate natural hazard preparedness programs. Furthermore, cultural strategies, especially proverbs, may have a greater influence than foreign technical terms because they are emotionally connected to local communities. Culturally sensitive disaster management programs may also be applied to similar communities to signify the broader potential of language-based disaster management systems.]]>
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