Pantang (with the related terms palöë / poemalöë / këmali) was the Atjèhnese term for taboo — magical prohibitions on actions, words, and objects to prevent harmful consequences. Pantang was the prohibition itself; palöë / poemalöë / këmali was the magical state being prevented. The system was based on fear of magical contamination, resemblance, or bewitchment.
Types of pantang
Kreemer identifies several types of pantang:
- Pantang-voorschriften — general taboo rules (e.g., Friday is pantang for sea fishing, farming, and other labour)
- Geslachts-pantang’s — taboos related to sex and gender
- Taal-pantang’s (narit moebalé) — word taboos, where certain words are replaced by euphemisms in certain circumstances
- Verbodsteekenen — visible prohibition signs
Taal-pantang’s (word taboos)
Taal-pantang’s were taboos on certain words in certain circumstances, replaced by euphemisms:
- Smallpox was called sakét boengöng kajèë (“flower disease”) not sakét plawa
- Cholera was called pëmböngörön in Gayo
- Tiger, elephant, crocodile, and snake were not called by their real names
- The sick were described as “pleasant of flesh”
At sea, taal-pantang’s were particularly strict: words like goenöng (mountain), gadjah (elephant), and lheuëh (finished) were forbidden for fear of summoning spirits or danger.
The praise taboo (keunöng meuj göb)
The keunöng meuj göb (“struck by the praise of others”) was the dangerous effect of praise, believed to attract envious spirits. Equivalent to German berufen or beschreien, it was counteracted by the formula be moebabah (“may the small one not be struck by the praise of strangers”) and by smearing lime behind the child’s ears.
Fishery pantang’s
Friday was pantang for sea fishing, farming, and other labour. After the kanoeri la’öt (sea-kanoeri at the beginning of the fishing season), fishing at sea was pantang for 7 days. These fishery pantang’s were enforced by the pawang (master fisherman) who possessed èleumèë (esoteric knowledge).
See Also
Source
Atjèh. Algemeen samenvattend overzicht van land en volk van Atjèh en onderhoorigheden, door J. Kreemer, Archivaris van het Atjèh Instituut. Tweede Deel. Leiden: N.V. Boekhandel en Drukkerij voorheen E.J. Brill, 1923.
Identifier: Delpher MMKB02B:000001798; PPN 395084288. Koninklijke Bibliotheek.