PADDY AS A SIGN IN MALAY PROVERB

The Malay used their wisdom to examine the elements of nature and create beautiful phrases in the form of proverbs. This article examines paddy as elements of nature. It represents symbols which appeared in most of the proverbs. Paddy has been focused because of its economical and as main food resources among Malay. The implicit meaning of paddy is described by assessing and interpreting, in order to be understood. Thus it can stand as guidance in daily life and socialization. The selected proverbs taken from Peribahasa Melayu: Penelitian Makna dan Nilai (2011) by Zaitul Azma Zainon Ahmad Fuad Hamzah Mat Hassan, published by University Putra Malaysia. Firasat or interpretative used as the framework in this article, offered by Teori Pengkaedahan Melayu (Theory of Malay Methodology). Firasat is one of the alamiah (natural) approaches in Teori Pengkaedahan Melayu. It is applied to gain symbols and meanings of paddy in the proverbs. Eventually the analysis contented the Teori Pengkaedahan Melayu as to accomplish virtue, piety and decency values. The analysis focused on the meanings and roles of paddy among the Malay. It has discovered that paddy in the selected proverbs represents the relationship of brotherhood and kinship, constructs morality and stated as sources of living.