Representation of Student Identity in Short Stories Based on Dayak Local Wisdom: An Arabic Linguistic Perspective

Marsiah Marsiah, Nurul Wahdah, Mahfuz Rizqi Mubarak, Muhammad Kholis Amrullah, Ahmad Rifa’i

Abstract


This study examines the representation of student identity through the use of Arabic in short stories rooted in the local wisdom of Central Kalimantan, particularly those written by the students themselves. Using an interpretive qualitative approach with a case study design and critical discourse analysis, the research shows that Arabic functions as a strategic medium that affirms religious identity while also connecting local culture, including Dayak rituals and the Kaharingan belief system, with broader discourse. Analysis of the texts, supported by interviews with 20 participants, reveals a complex process of cultural negotiation in which students transform local values and narratives into Arabic despite linguistic limitations such as restricted vocabulary and cultural distance. These short stories thus serve not only as literary works but also as dynamic spaces for cultural affirmation and the formation of an inclusive multicultural identity. The findings are relevant for developing contextual Arabic language education and for shaping language and cultural policies that help preserve cultural heritage in contemporary society. This study, therefore, contributes meaningfully to interdisciplinary scholarship in linguistics, literature, and anthropology.

Keywords


Arabic Linguistic Perspective; Short Stories; Student Identity

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.17509/alsuniyat.v8i2.90979

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