METI OTTU Pengarang SEBASTIANUS FERNANDEZ Dosen Pembimbing 1 GRACIA M. N. OTTA Dosen Pembimbing 2 Fransiskus Bustan Ketua Penguji Sebastianus Fernandez Penguji 1 Gracia M. N. Otta Penguji 2

This thesis untitled “The Cultural Discourse of Natoni in Funereal Ceremony of South Amanatun People in Nunle’u Village”. This study was conducted to answer these questions: (1) What are the cultural meanings of Natoni funeral ceremony in Nunle’u village of South Amanatun? (2) What are the educational values of Natoni funeral in Nunle’u village of South Amanatun? The aims of this study are: (1) To describe cultural meanings of Natoni funeral in Nunle’u Village of South Amanatun. (2) To describe the educational values of Natoni funeral in Nunle’u Village of South Amanatun. The method used in this research was the qualitative descriptive method. It was used to described the cultural meaning of Natoni rituall in Nunle’u Village, and describe the educational value of Natoni ritual in Nunl’u Village. The research conducted in Nunle’u Village, South Amanatun Disctrict, Timor Tengah Selatan Regency. The data were taken from five informants. The techniques of data collection were interview, documentation, note taking and recording. The data obtained were process following transcription, translation, selection, and analysis. The result shows that: (1) This ritual carried out by the Atonis who have important role in this ritual; He is Opianus Misa. (2) Natoni ritual is performed using traditional language to pay last respects to the deceased. (3) Natoni ritual also has cultural, social, and educational values. (4) The Nunle’u people continue the practice the ritual to respect to the deceased. Key words: Cultural, Meanings, Educational, Values, Natoni, funeral ceremony.