Wolio Proverbs as a Local Knowledge System for Sustainable Coastal Development: A Cultural Linguistic Perspective on Community Resilience in Baubau, Indonesia

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-565-2_55How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Wolio proverbs; indigenous knowledge; socio-ecological resilience

Abstract

This research analyses Wolio proverbs as a local knowledge framework that articulates community resilience and sustainable development within the coastal context of Baubau Regency, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. It aims to achieve two objectives: (1) to identify the cultural value framework embedded within Wolio proverbs concerning socio-ecological resilience, and (2) to analyse the manner in which ecological metaphors influence the community’s perception of risk, calamity, and environmental processes. The study used a descriptive-interpretive qualitative methodology, incorporating thematic coding and conceptual metaphor analysis within a Cultural Linguistics framework. The analysis produces two primary findings aligned with these objectives. First, Wolio proverbs embody a structured framework of cultural values articulated through four interconnected components: a hierarchy that prioritises the individual, community (lipu), tradition (sara), and religion; a work ethic that underscores self-discipline and economic stability; prudence and social boundaries that inform risk management; and justice and social order that uphold community cohesion. Second, Wolio proverbs employ ecological metaphors—such as tides, flooding, drizzle, storms, and coral reefs—as cognitive frameworks for understanding environmental uncertainty, cyclical change, and socio-ecological impacts. These findings suggest that Wolio proverbs serve not only as moral expressions but also as culturally rooted frameworks for adaptation pertinent to sustainable coastal development, disaster risk reduction, and natural resource management. This research underscores the significance of Wolio indigenous knowledge in promoting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 11, SDG 13, and SDG 14, within small island and coastal communities.

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  - Firman Alamsyah Mansyur
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/04/30
TI  - Wolio Proverbs as a Local Knowledge System for Sustainable Coastal Development: A Cultural Linguistic Perspective on Community Resilience in Baubau, Indonesia
BT  - Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Social Environment Diversity (ICOSEND 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 454
EP  - 466
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-565-2_55
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-565-2_55
ID  - Mansyur2026
ER  -