TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Residents of Sangihe Island, North Sulawesi, learns about life philosophy from the sea. Many of quotes and principles of life in Sangir are taken from sea phenomenon.
But not only quotes, people of Sangir also develop sasahara, a language that is specially used in the sea.
“Sasahara is a symbolic maritime language used by fishermen while they are at sea. The language emerges as the fishermen want to show respect to the guard of the sea,” said Niklas Mahare, humanist of Sangihe.
Sangihe maritime people believe that the sea is conquered by Mawendo. In front of Mawendo, people should respect taboo and mateling (sacredness of the sea). One of the way to do this is to maintain a language. Fishermen would use different words for certain objects when they are at the sea such as pato for boat.
QARIS TAJUDIN
