Kinship, Space, and Cultural Communication in Tanean Lanjhang Settlements of Madura
Lulus Sugeng Triandika

Universitas Terbuka
JL. Pd. Cabe Raya, Pd. Cabe Udik, Kec. Ciputat, Kota Tangerang Selatan, Banten 15437

Abstract

This study examines the communication practices of the Madurese community within the traditional settlement concept of Tanean Lanjhang using an ethnography of communication approach. Conducted in Bangkalan and Sampang Regencies, the research explores how spatial organization, kinship structures, and local cultural values shape both verbal and nonverbal communication patterns. The findings reveal that Tanean Lanjhang is not merely a residential arrangement but a sociocultural system that embodies religious values, solidarity, and strong kinship ties. The spatial configuration of buildings facing one another, the central role of the langgar (prayer house) as a religious and communal center, the use of shared domestic spaces, and the tradition of communal ceremonies function as communication media that strengthen social interaction and collective problem-solving mechanisms. Furthermore, the predominantly matrilineal kinship system influences residential patterns and interpersonal communication among family members. The study demonstrates that the physical layout of Tanean Lanjhang serves as a form of nonverbal communication that reflects and reinforces Madurese cultural identity. However, ongoing modernization and changes in architectural structures pose challenges to the continuity of the cultural values embedded in this settlement concept. Therefore, preserving communication patterns and kinship values is essential for sustaining this distinctive Madurese cultural heritage.

Keywords: Ethnography of Communication- Tanean Lanjhang- Madurese Cultural Identity

Topic: Digital Resilience: Cultural and Literary Discourses of Global Alliances (Digital Resilience- Cultural Discourse- Global Alliances)