One Raner Tanesab Pengarang FRANSISKUS BUSTAN Dosen Pembimbing 1 YANPITHERZON LIUNOKAS Dosen Pembimbing 2 Fransiskus Bustan Penguji 1 Yanpitherzon Liunokas Penguji 2 Soleman Dapa Taka Ketua Penguji

This research is a semiotic analysis of symbols in traditional cloth motif in Dawan culture. The problems of the study are: firstly, what are symbols used in traditional cloth motif in Dawan culture. Secondly, what are types of meanings of those symbols. This study aims to identify the symbols which are used in the traditional cloth motif in Dawan culture and to describe the meanings of those symbols. The research design used was descriptive qualitative method. The research was conducted in Tumu village, Central Amanuban sub district, South Central Timor regency, on June, 2023. The writer selected four informants as the data resource. This study used techniques like observation, interview, note taking, notebook and camera to collect data. The data were analyzed by using identifying and describing techniques. The result shows that there were 12 symbols found in traditional cloth motif in Dawan culture. They are: Futus naka’to kaif naek (large hook circular head motif), futus kaif mnutu panbuat (subtle unity hook motif), lotis hau no/ tuna (pry type of flower motif), buna teke (embossed type of gecko motif), tiup keta (stick fracture), nonot/ eka mata (cross shape), me (red), muti (white), molo (yellow), mate (green), kanalu (blue) and metan (black). Types of meaning found in those symbols are: (a) Cultural meaning. For example: Futus naka’to kaif naek (large hook circular head motif), futus kaif mnutu panbuat (subtle unity hook motif). These examples contain cultural meaning because they symbolize identity, social status and good relations with others in a cultural context. (b) Social meaning. For example: Lotis hau no/ tuna (pry type motif flower), buna teke (embossed type gecko motif), tiup keta (stick fracture motif), eka mata (cross shape motif), me (red), metan (black). These examples contain social meaning because they symbolize meaning of social status, good luck, balance, limits power, love, honor, good relations between human and nature. (c) Connotative meaning. For example: Molo (yellow), and mate (green). These examples contain connotative meaning because they symbolize meaning of glory or prosperity, happiness, fertility and natural beauty. (d) Conceptual meaning. For example: Muti (white). These examples contain conceptual meaning because they symbolize meaning of purity and kinship.