UNAIR NEWS – The condition of local languages in Indonesia was astounding. From total 746 local languages, 75 languages have been extinct. Thus, Indonesian Regional Representatives Council ((DPD RI) started to draft a bill of local languages which currently reviewed by some experts from around Indonesia.

In the review, Dr, Ni Wayan Sartini, M. Hum, a lecturer of Indonesian Literature of Unair had an opportunity to give her analysis. The cultural linguistics expert explained some factors which caused this weakening condition of local languages as spoken languages. Some of them were opinions that local languages symbolized traditional thought, language of villagers and language with no prestige.

“The attention of global organization such as The United Nations on the existence of local languages was real. Through UNESCO, February 21 was established as International Mother Language Day. It was the foundation how important mother languages were for character building and identity affirmation,” said the alumnus of Udayana University Bali.

Wayan elaborated steps to preserve the local languages. One of them was by inciting consistent local languages usage by the native speakers. Furthermore, great government support to formulate revitalization strategies of local language speaking and learning was needed.

“Revitalization in this regard is efforts to preserve the language, could be from languages’ documentation, teachers’ training, textbooks publishing, and establishing community centers,” she added.

Writer: Nuri Hermawan