Halat: Ritual Speech and Symbolic Exchange in Traditional Dawan Wedding Ceremonies

This study examines the meanings conveyed through ritual speech (tonis) and symbolic exchange (belis) in the Halat traditional wedding ceremony in Nonbaun Village, Middle Fatuleu Subdistrict, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. It also explores the cultural values embedded in the tradition and the challenges associated with its preservation. This study employed a qualitative ethnographic approach incorporating cultural translation analysis. Data were collected through participant observation, semi-structured interviews with five key informants, including traditional elders, Dawan language experts, Halat participants, and village government representatives, and audiovisual documentation. Data analysis involved three stages: verbatim transcription of ritual utterances, cultural translation analysis, and thematic coding. The findings identify three dimensions of meaning conveyed through tonis and belis: symbolic meaning, reflected in expressions and ceremonial objects representing dignity and responsibility; relational meaning, expressed through the formation and reinforcement of relationships between families; and spiritual meaning, associated with loyalty, love, and the union of two souls. The study also identifies three cultural values embedded in the Halat tradition: reciprocity, respect, and communal harmony. These values are reflected in ritual expressions, symbolic exchanges, and interactions between participating families. Furthermore, the findings reveal three main challenges to maintaining the tradition: declining mastery of the Dawan ritual language among younger generations, the influence of modern marriage practices, and a shift from collectivist toward individualistic social values. This study contributes to the documentation of Dawan cultural heritage by examining the relationship between ritual language, symbolic exchange, and cultural values in the Halat traditional wedding ceremony.