COHESION IN DHAMMA SONGS

Abstract

Dhamma songs in today’s online media are characterized by cohesion aimed at communicating with specific audiences. The intention is to create a sense of aesthetics, bring about mental calmness, and cultivate a consciousness inclined towards virtue according to natural principles and the teachings of Buddhism. This article aimed to study the cohesion that appears in Dhamma songs by analyzing data from 500 Dhamma songs published on YouTube. The study results revealed four types of cohesion, with the most common being reference, followed by conjunction and repetition, and the least common being omission. The distinct feature of cohesion in Dhamma songs was the use of references, specifically religious pronouns, which were unique to Dhamma songs and did not appear in other song genres. This reflected the uniqueness of vocabulary usage in Dhamma songs. Additionally, all types of cohesion found in these songs effectively weave narratives related to Buddhism, enabling the audience to understand various stories and events as conveyed through the Dhamma songs.