UNAIR NEWS – Indonesia is home to a vast array of cultures and local languages spread across its regions. This cultural wealth makes the country particularly appealing to international students. To introduce local culture to these students, the Faculty of Humanities (FIB) at Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) held a summer school on Friday, July 5, 2024.
Dr. Abimardha Kurniawan served as the keynote speaker at the event. He explained that Indonesian culture and languages are predominantly oral traditions. This is largely due to the high socialization culture among Indonesians.
“Indonesians prefer face-to-face communication over written communication, leading to many stories being passed down orally,” he explained.
Indonesian scripts
Indonesian scripts are highly diverse, varying significantly based on their regional origins. The meanings conveyed through these scripts are not limited to the Indonesian language alone, enriching the cultural tapestry.
“Indonesian scripts incorporate a variety of languages, including Acehnese, Arabic, and Sundanese, among others,” he elaborated.
Dr. Kurniawan pointed out that local scripts are more commonly found in the western regions of Indonesia, largely due to historical trade connections with the Middle East.
“Many scripts are prevalent in Western Indonesia because of their closeness to numerous Middle Eastern countries,” Dr. Kurniawan noted.
Writing materials
During the summer school, Abi highlighted several traditional materials used for writing scripts, focusing on three examples. Tree bark, lontar leaves, and European paper are frequently used as writing media.
“There are various materials used for script writing, including tree bark, lontar leaves, and European paper,” he mentioned.
The diversity of writing materials in Indonesia is a result of its interactions with other nations. “There are three primary influences on Indonesian scripts: the Abrahamic scripts from India, often associated with similarities to Sundanese and Javanese scripts, as well as Arabic and Roman scripts,” he stated.
Author: Ahmad Hanif Musthafa
Editor: Yulia Rohmawati
