INTEGRATING ECOLEXICON INTO INDONESIAN LANGUAGE TEACHING TO ENHANCE ECOLOGICAL LITERACY THROUGH MEDIA DISCOURSE ON FOREST CITY

Abstract

This study investigates the forms, functions, and pedagogical implications of ecolexicon use in media discourses surrounding the Forest City development in Indonesia’s new capital (IKN). Employing a qualitative ecolinguistic discourse analysis, data were drawn from news articles published by Media Indonesia, Republika, and Tempo. The findings reveal a wide range of ecolexical items categorized into six thematic domains: ecosystems and biodiversity, reforestation and conservation, green technology and innovation, participation and collaboration, environmental threats and degradation, and sustainable urbanization and green spatial planning. Each category constructs distinct ideological framings of sustainability, reflecting how language mediates ecological values within public narratives. Media Indonesia predominantly emphasizes biodiversity and urban greening, Tempo highlights technological and policy-oriented narratives, while Republika integrates moral and participatory dimensions. These variations demonstrate that ecolexicon serves not only as linguistic evidence of environmental awareness but also as a pedagogical resource for cultivating critical and ecological literacy. Integrating ecolexicon analysis into Indonesian language instruction can foster students’ capacity to interpret media framing, reflect on sustainability discourses, and connect linguistic learning with environmental consciousness.