International Journal of Culture and Art Studies

An overview of Chinese and Indonesian adjective predicate to deepen understanding and translation

Ayu Trihardini — 2025-10-31

Predicates are considered the center of sentences, and understanding them will help students understand the meaning of various utterances. A contrastive study between languages helps to understand the target language being studied. However, research on the contrast of Chinese and Indonesian predicates has not received enough attention. This paper focuses on a contrastive analysis of Chinese and Indonesian adjective-predicate sentences, namely the syntactic units that form the predicate and the related grammatical rules. The data in this study were Chinese and Indonesian adjective-predicate sentences from short stories, novels, and associated grammatical works. The data obtained were then analysed using the procedure described by James and the contrastive analysis method by Di Pietro. The results of the study show that Chinese and Indonesian predicates are similar in definition, but differ in the internal structure. The fundamental difference is that bare adjectives in Chinese sentences are used only in comparative contexts. In addition, some Indonesian adjective-predicate sentences must be added with “adalah” or demonstrative pronouns between the subject and predicate. While the equivalent in Mandarin is the verb “shi”, and sentences whose predicates are added with verbs will become verbal sentences. These findings will undoubtedly contribute to the understanding of Chinese language learners from Indonesia and are expected to provide input and references in the field of translation.

The dynamics of the development of canang kayu musical instruments in the Aceh Singkil community

Junaidi Purba — 2025-10-31

This study discusses the dynamics of the development of canang kayu musical instruments in the Aceh Singkil community. Canang kayu, which initially served as a traditional musical instrument in rituals and religious activities, has undergone changes in form, function, and context of use over time. Using a descriptive qualitative approach through observation, interviews, and documentation, this study was analyzed based on Herkovits' Theory of Change. The results of the study indicate that the Canang Kayu musical instrument has undergone changes in its aesthetic subjects, objects, and ethics. These changes can be seen in the number of notes and in the player's position at formal events and traditional ceremonies. Despite the changes, Canang Kayu continues to uphold the values of local culture and the identity of the Aceh Singkil community.

The ratib samman ritual and its social function in the Sei Paham community, Sei Kepayang district

Rahma Hayati Harahap — 2025-10-31

The Ratib Samman ritual is a highly popular tradition among the people of Sei Paham, Sei Kepayang District, and it has socially important functions. The purpose of this research is to reveal the social function of the Ratib Samman Ritual of Sei Paham Community, Sei Kepayang District. This research method is qualitative with data collection techniques through interviews, observations and document studies. Research activities are directed to find social facts that are happening in accordance with existing reality. The results of the study show that the community does not know when this ritual is interpreted as a practice of zikr and to get closer to oneself. Zikr as a Religious Tradition and Art in Sei Kepayang Village. The social function of the Ratib Samman ritual is as a form of solidarity and social integration, as well as a means of overcoming various problems that arise in the form of epidemics or diseases, famine, crime, and disturbances from supernatural beings.

Collocations of effective and efficient in COCA: A corpus analysis

Deliana — 2025-10-31

This corpus-based study analyses two adjectives often perceived as synonymous, effective and efficient, by examining their collocations and formality levels in the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA). A qualitative content analysis was applied to 400 concordance lines, evenly divided between the two adjectives. The analysis involved selecting content, categorising data, developing coding rules, coding texts, and interpreting results. Collocational structures such as adjective + preposition, adjective + to-infinitive, adjective + that-clause, adverb + adjective, and adjective + noun were identified. The findings show that effective frequently collocates with nouns related to outcomes and appears predominantly in formal contexts, especially academic writing. In contrast, efficient commonly collocates with nouns related to processes and is used more flexibly across genres, including blogs and magazines. Grammatically, effective often combines with the prepositions in and at, while efficient shows greater variety and frequently occurs in to-infinitive and that-clause constructions. The study concludes that effective and efficient have distinct collocational patterns, grammatical behaviours, and degrees of formality, making them not fully interchangeable in all contexts.

The effect of service quality and location on tourist satisfaction in Denai Lama tourism village, Deli Serdang regency

Mustafa Kamal — 2025-10-31

This study aims to analyze the influence of service quality and location on tourist satisfaction in Denai Lama Tourism Village, Deli Serdang Regency. The background of this research is based on the importance of sustainable management of community-based tourist destinations in increasing the competitiveness and loyalty of tourists. This study employs a quantitative descriptive approach, utilizing a survey method with 80 tourists who visited Denai Lama Tourism Village. The results of the multiple linear regression analysis showed that the variables of service quality (X₁) and location (X₂) had a significant effect on tourist satisfaction (Y), accounting for 84.2% of the contribution. These findings confirm that friendly, fast, and communicative services, as well as strategic and easily accessible locations, are the dominant factors that affect the level of satisfaction among tourists. This research offers practical implications for tourism village managers to enhance service standards and location governance, thereby maintaining visitor loyalty and ensuring the sustainability of tourist destinations.

Changes in the structure and style of gondrang in Simalungun musical tradition

Ricky Nelson — 2025-10-31

Gondrang is one of the most important musical ensembles in the Simalungun tradition, originally serving as sacred accompaniment in ritual contexts, particularly funerary ceremonies. Previous studies have largely focused on the social and cultural transformations of Gondrang, while the specific changes in its musical structure and style have not been analyzed in depth. This study aims to describe and analyze the internal musical changes of Gondrang, including its instrumentation, rhythmic organization, ensemble formation, melodic orientation, ornamentation, and performance expression. Employing a qualitative ethnomusicological approach, the research is based on observation of performances, interviews with musicians and cultural elders, and audio-visual documentation. The results show that Gondrang has experienced structural changes such as the addition of modern instruments and flexible ensemble settings, and stylistic changes including faster tempos, melodic expansion, ornamented improvisation, and more expressive performance gestures. Despite these changes, core rhythmic patterns and symbolic identity have been preserved. This study contributes to ethnomusicology by highlighting the internal dynamics of musical change, showing how Gondrang adapts to modern contexts while maintaining its cultural essence.

Decoding community murals as visual representations of multiculturalism in Suryatmajan tourism kampong

Kristian Oentoro — 2025-10-31

Community murals, as participatory public art projects, express local identities and cultural influences within society. Situated in the heart of Yogyakarta, the community mural in Suryatmajan tourist village conveys a visual message about unity in diversity while promoting a multicultural ideology. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the signs on these community murals as visual representations of multiculturalism. Employing Roland Barthes' semiotic analysis, this research decodes the signs and layered meanings in four murals placed at the different entrance gates. These murals visually represent four distinct cultural influences, from local to global: Javanese, Chinese, Japanese, and American (popular culture). These cultural influences are identified through images of prominent figures or icons associated with each culture. They generate denotative and connotative meanings for each mural according to its story. As a manifestation of community engagement, the diversity in this mural representation reflects social conditions, cultural history, and residents' preferences. These murals also demonstrate the community's tolerance for cultural differences and foster multiculturalism. By prioritizing the value of harmony (guyub), Suryatmajan tourism kampong emphasizes unity in cultural diversity as a mural narrative. This research concludes that the community mural in tourism kampong is more than simply decoration; it serves as a collective expression, attracts tourists, and fosters multiculturalism within the society.