Makna Asosiatif Nama Panggilan Artis-Artis Indonesia

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the associative meanings embedded in the nicknames of Indonesian artists as reflections of the relationship between language, social events, and collective conceptualization. Language is viewed not merely as a system of signs conveying lexical meaning, but also as a medium that represents social experience, cultural knowledge, and collective memory. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, this research examines nicknames that emerged not from given names, but from social events, physical characteristics, habits, evaluative judgments, and family relations. The data consist of Indonesian artists’ nicknames collected from credible online media sources, interviews, and biographical accounts. Data were analyzed using an associative semantic framework by identifying the lexical meanings of the nicknames and tracing their associative extensions based on causal relations, physical features, social roles, evaluative perceptions, and habitual or familial contexts. The analysis is supported by perspectives from semantic theory, cognitive linguistics, and sociolinguistics. The findings show that Indonesian artists’ nicknames are formed through non-arbitrary associative processes. Nicknames such as Bolot and Iwan Fals reflect cause–effect relations rooted in specific social events, while Cak Lontong and Opik Kumis are based on salient physical characteristics. Other nicknames, such as Tarzan, Komeng, and Sule, emerge from social roles, evaluative considerations, and family-based habits. These associative meanings are processed cognitively by speakers and maintained through collective social agreement. This study concludes that artists’ nicknames function not only as linguistic labels but also as social symbols that store and transmit shared experiences, reinforcing the role of language as a cognitive and social system within Indonesian popular culture