LANGUAGE, HUMOR, AND URBAN BALINESE IDENTITY: THE REPRESENTATION OF “KAWITAN KODYA” IN TIKTOK DIGITAL CONTENT

Abstract

The development of social media has created new spaces for the production and negotiation of
identity through language. One interesting phenomenon in the Balinese context is the use of the
phrase “kawitan kodya” in digital comedy content on TikTok. The term kawitan, which culturally
refers to genealogical origins and the sacred dimension within Balinese tradition, has been
reinterpreted as a symbol of urban identity through humor. This study aims to describe the forms of
usage of the phrase “kawitan kodya” along with supporting expressions such as “tabik sugra” and
“kle kle kle,” and to analyze their meanings and social functions in constructing urban Balinese
identity. The research employs a descriptive qualitative approach using digital discourse analysis.
The data consist of utterances in TikTok content that were transcribed and analyzed through the
semiotic perspective of Roland Barthes and pragmatic theory. The findings indicate that the phrase
“kawitan kodya” has undergone a shift in meaning from a sacred concept to a symbol of modernity
and urban community solidarity. Meanwhile, “tabik sugra” and “kle kle kle” function as
performative strategies that construct intimacy, humor, and distinctive digital identity markers.
These findings demonstrate that language in digital content functions not only as a means of
communication but also as a medium for identity construction and cultural meaning transformation
in contemporary urban Bali.