PENGAPLIKASIAN PENDEKATAN SEMANTIK INKUISITIF DALAM PEMBELAJARAN PERIBAHASA MELAYU: ANALISIS TERHADAP BUKU TEKS SEKOLAH MENENGAH(Application of Inquisitive Semantics in the Learning of Malay Proverbs: An Analysis of Secondary School Textbooks)

The learning of proverbs through the method of memorizing dictionary meanings alone will not stimulate students’ higher-order thinking skills. Teachers need to identify a comprehensive approach that can help students understand meanings, relate the use of proverbs and their meanings in real speech contexts, and appreciate the aesthetics of Malay proverbs. In this regard, the researcher examined the application of inquisitive semantics in analyzing the meanings of proverbs contained in the secondary school Malay language syllabus based on the KSSM Malay Language curriculum as an alternative method for teaching and learning proverbs. This qualitative study, in the form of content analysis, obtained data from the Malay Language textbooks for Form 4 and Form 5. The data were analyzed using the framework of the inquisitive semantic study, which involves three stages: script semantics, semantic resonance, and inquisitive semantics. The findings indicated that this approach not only facilitates comprehensive learning of proverbs, but also stimulates students’ higher-order thinking skills, making it more relevant in the context of 21st-century learning. The conclusion of this study suggests that inquisitive semantics is suitable as an alternative method in the teaching and learning of proverbs, in line with the elements of inquiry-based learning and contextual learning in KSSM. This study also emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary learning through proverbs, encompassing aspects of history, culture, and science, as well as enriching the teaching of the Malay language with cross-curricular elements.