Arnoldus Tupen Gego Pengarang Drs. Soleman Dapa Taka, MA Dosen Pembimbing 1 Greis Evalinda, S.Pd., M.Pd Dosen Pembimbing 2 Prof. Dr. Fransiskus Bustan, M.Lib - 195604241988031001 Ketua Penguji Drs. Soleman Dapataka, MA Penguji 1 Greis Evalinda, S.Pd., M.Pd Penguji 2

This thesis was entitled: “A Semiotic Analysis of the Mula Oson Traditional Ritual in Tobi Tika, Adonara Island, East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara Province”. The subject of this study is Mula Oson. The problems of the study are: (1) what are signs of the Mula Oson Traditional Ritual in Tobi Tika, Adonara Island, East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara Province. (2) what are the meanings of the signs in the Mula Oson Traditional Ritual in Tobi Tika, Adonara Island, East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara Province. This study aims to find out the signs used in the Mula Oson Traditional Ritual in Tobi Tika, Adonara Island, East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara Province. And to describe the meanings of the signs contained in the Mula Oson Traditional Ritual in Tobi Tika, Adonara Island, East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara Province. The method used was descriptive qualitative method. This research was conducted in Tobi Tika, Adonara Island, East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara Province on May, 2024. The writer selected two informants as the data resource. Some techniques used to collect data were observation, interview, note taking, and recording. The researcher used Pierce’s semiotic theory for answering the two main research questions. The result shows that there were 17 symbols found in in the process of Mula Oson ritual in Tobi Tika, Adonara Island, East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara Province and has its own meaning, namely: Eken (seven branch bamboo) symbolize people who died, Ikan (Fish) and Waha Loho (Rice) symbolize our gratitude to the ancestors, Nobo (stone) symbolize the seat of the ancestors, Lelu (Cotton) symbolize cleanliness, Tuak (palm wine) symbolize media of communication with ancestors and relationship between Adonara people and their ancestors, Kbua (Coconut) symbolize purification, Lia (Ginger) symbolize spirit of bravery to war, and Keo Mata (coconut shell) symbolize media to store coconut water from kbua, Nawi (place to put Tuak made out of Bamboo) and Neak (glass made out of coconut shell) as a medium of communication between we as Adonara people and our ancestors. Bedi (Gun) and Kenube (long-bladed dagger) symbolize a weapon that being used in war. Napu (coconut fiber) and Garis Karo (match) has a role to chase away the bad spirits or evil spirits. Wua Warak (betel nut) have the same meaning as a symbol of the highest appreciation in human interaction because it is a unity and a habit and Muda (citrus) symbolize man’s head. Key words : Mula Oson ritual, semiotic, semiotic analysis.