The Relationship between Oukup Materials and Ecology and Language in the Karo Batak Ethnic Community: An Ecolinguistic Study

Abstract

This study examines oukup as a traditional healing practice of the Karo Batak ethnic group through the perspective of ecolinguistics. Oukup not only functions as a form of health therapy but also reflects a complex ecological knowledge system that has been transmitted across generations. Each oukup ingredient embodies ecological, cultural, and linguistic values that represent the reciprocal relationship between humans and nature. The research employs a descriptive qualitative method with data collection techniques consisting of observation, interviews, and documentation conducted in Rumah Kabanjahe Village, Karo Regency, North Sumatra. The data were analyzed through the stages of collection, reduction, display, and verification interactively to produce an ecological mapping of oukup materials.The findings reveal 34 plant species categorized into four ecological groups based on their proximity to human settlements: very near (10 species), near (21 species), far (3 species), and very far (none found). This classification not only reflects spatial distance but also signifies the social and spiritual attachment of the community to its environment. The Karo language plays a crucial role in documenting ecological knowledge through a floral lexicon that serves as a linguistic ecology map. This study emphasizes that the preservation of oukup cannot rely solely on its medical aspect but requires a participatory ecolinguistic approach that integrates language preservation, plant conservation, and cultural revitalization. Thus, oukup serves as a representation of the harmonious relationship between humans, language, and nature within the cultural cosmos of the Karo Batak community.