Place Name Metonymy And Political Power: The Case Of Menteng In Indonesian Media Discourse

Muhammad Adam; Fathu Rahman; Harlinah Sahib; Herawaty Abbas

doi:10.29284/jmr86k86

Authors

Muhammad Adam Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia.
Fathu Rahman Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia.
Harlinah Sahib Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia.
Herawaty Abbas Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29284/jmr86k86

Keywords:

Metonymy, Menteng, Political Discourse, Cognitive Linguistics, Indonesian Media.

Abstract

This study examines the metonymic use of the place name Menteng in Indonesian media political discourse. Specifically, this study aims to identify forms of metonymy involving Menteng, determine the actual referents it represents, and explain its discursive function in constructing meanings of power. This study uses a descriptive qualitative approach with discourse analysis methods based on metonymy theory in cognitive linguistics and political discourse analysis. The data consists of sentences from political media texts containing the word Menteng and used in non-literal contexts. The results show that Menteng is consistently used as a metonymy to represent political elites, institutions, and power networks through the conceptual pattern PLACE → POLITICAL ELITE/INSTITUTION. Furthermore, the use of Menteng metonymy has a discursive function as a representational strategy and ideological critique of the dominance of political elites and the power relations between the center of power and the public. This study confirms that place name metonymy is not neutral, but rather plays an active role in shaping political meanings and perceptions in Indonesian media discourse.

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