| Summary: | The ceremonial oration or speech (Pidato Adat) is one form of oral literature that
proliferated in Minangkabau Society. One form of speech can be found in the traditions of
melewakan gala, which is performed when a man is entitled with a cultural title (Gelar Adat) by
his relatives. There are two forms of malewakan gala tradition, namely malewakan gala
marapulai (MGM) and malewakan gala panghulu (MGP). Both traditions of malewakan gala
comprise of a relatively long and complicated oration. The complexity can be found in the
structure of the sentences, rhymes, and the sayings. This research attempts to understand the
meaning and function of Ceremonial oration or speech in the tradition of Malewakan Gala may
represent the emergence of a rule of customary title to the inheritance of men in Minangkabau
society.
The research was initially carried out by documenting the texts of ceremonial oration or
speech by recording them and keeping the written ceremonial oration or speech. This action
resulted in four ceremonial speech texts of malewakan gala consisting of three (3) MGP
speeches and 1 (one) text of MGM speech. All of them have been transcribed and translated, and
designated as the primary data source, subsequently analyzed in the context of literature by using
the theory of Structuralism, Barthes� Semiology and Functionalism.
The results of this study can be formulated as follows: Firstly, based on their physical
structures, the texts consist of the opening section, sirih pinang, the Malewakan Gala speech,
and the closing. Based on the structure of the content, the texts of the speeches consist of two
parts, bungo pidato adat and batang pidato adat. The content covers twelve kinds of main
formulas, which varied in different texts, and can be further enriched by additional patterns of
formula. The use of the patterns of formulas is strongly influenced by the style of the speakers
and their traditional principles of salingka nagari prevailing in Minangkabau.
Secondly, based on the meanings on the first level, literally, the Minangkabau regard the
speeches as a cultural obligation to support the idea of inheriting the honorific traditional titles
for the men. While at the second level, metaphorically, the speeches mark the idea that men are
entitled to inherit the honorable heritage, especially the traditional honorific title of sako. The
later level shows that there has been a cultural subversion from patriarchy to matrilineal system.
Thirdly, based on the functions, the traditional speech serves to legitimize indigenous
institutions
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