KOMUNIKASI ANTARPERSONAL UWA DENGAN ANGGOTA MASYARAKAT TOLOTANG DI SIDRAP SULAWESI SELATAN

Interpersonal communication plays a crucial role in maintaining the
sustainability of a community's values, norms, and social structure. In the Tolotang
community in Amparita, Sidrap Regency, South Sulawesi, interpersonal
communication is the primary mechanism for transmitting traditional teachings and
ancestral beliefs from generation to generation. Amidst modernization and social
change, the position of Uwa as a traditional leader remains strong and respected. This
demonstrates an effective communication pattern deeply embedded in the cultural
value system. Therefore, this study focuses on how Uwa's interpersonal
communication with the Tolotang community maintains social cohesion, collective
commitment, and the continuity of tradition.
This study aims to identify and understand Uwa's interpersonal communication
patterns with the Tolotang community in Sidrap, South Sulawesi. The study employed
a constructivist paradigm with a qualitative and descriptive approach. The subjects
consisted of Uwa, the community leader, and the Tolotang community members who
interact directly with him, selected using snowball sampling. Data collection included
interviews, direct observation, participant observation, and documentation. Data
analysis used the Miles and Huberman interactive model, which includes data
collection, data condensation, data presentation, conclusions, and verification.
The results show that interpersonal communication between the Uwa and the
Tolotang community is effective, harmonious, and based on customary values
and collective beliefs. This communication encompasses vertical, horizontal, and
diagonal dimensions, conveyed through symbols, messengers, and customary
mechanisms, fostering a sense of belonging born of awareness and respect, not
coercion. Uwa interpersonal communication serves not only as a means of conveying
information but also as a medium for transmitting values, fostering moral
development, strengthening social solidarity, and legitimizing customary leadership.
Thus, Uwa interpersonal communication serves as a primary foundation for
maintaining social harmony and the Tolotang community's desire for cultural identity
amidst the dynamics of modernization.