Semantic Analysis of Toponym on the Western Coast of Makassar in the Context of the Spice Route

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-613-0_29How to use a DOI?

Keywords

collective memory; historical identity; toponym; semantics; spice routes

Abstract

Place names (toponyms) serve as linguistic markers and cultural archives, preserving collective memory and historical identity. This study analyzes the semantic categories of toponyms along the western coast of Makassar to reveal how language reflects socio-historical dynamics associated with the spice trade route. Using a descriptive–qualitative onomastic approach that integrates cultural linguistics, the research draws data from historical archives, colonial maps, lontara manuscripts, field observations, and semi-structured interviews with local informants. A total of eight key toponyms were examined to identify semantic categories and their cultural significance. The findings reveal that toponyms encode four major semantic dimensions—ecological-topographical, historical-political, economic-trade, and cultural-expressive—enabling an understanding of the interplay between language, space, and maritime identity. The study demonstrates that place names such as Paotere, Tallo, Ujungpandang, and Kampung Melayu reflect collective memory and trace Makassar’s strategic role in the spice-trade network. These results contribute to cultural linguistics by providing empirical evidence of how maritime trade shaped the semantic evolution of place names in Eastern Indonesia, offering insights for heritage documentation and culture-based education.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Jusmianti Garing
AU  - Muhlis Hadrawi
AU  - Herry Jogaswara
AU  - Fajar Erhika
AU  - Hasanuddin Hasanuddin
AU  - Nuraidar Agus
AU  - Rismawidiawati Rismawidiawati
AU  - Makmur Makmur
AU  - Yusuf Yusuf
AU  - Khaidir Sirajuddin
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/04
TI  - Semantic Analysis of Toponym on the Western Coast of Makassar in the Context of the Spice Route
BT  - Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Linguistics and Cultural Studies (ICLC-6 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 353
EP  - 368
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-613-0_29
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-613-0_29
ID  - Garing2026
ER  -