Analyzing metaphorical greetings in traditional lullabies of the Acehnese Ratéb Dôda Idi

This study aims to analyze the meanings of metaphorical greetings to children in the Acehnese lullabies, Ratéb Dôda Idi, when mothers or elders cradle them to sleep. Traditional lullabies were collected from a book and were further verified by 12 Acehnese speakers, aged 50 55 years old, who had used these lullabies to cradle their children or grandchildren to sleep. The metaphor analysis technique and thematic analysis were used to analyze the data. The results showed that the metaphorical greetings for children in Ratéb Dôda Idi corresponds to (1) fruit pistils, (2) flowers, (3) leadership, (4) the white color, (5) anatomy, (6) good fortune, and (7) the cosmos. The meaning of affection, pampering, appreciation, praise, prayer, and motivation are embedded in the phrases, and the children are anticipated to grow into mature human beings who are devoted to their religion, parents, family, community, nation, and with the hope that they become wise and brave leaders. This form of culture through greetings should be preserved in the Acehnese daily communication because greeting children with metaphorical expressions are among the forms of an educational tradition that is beneficial to modern pedagogical values.