Up to this time, people know only three languages in West Sumatra, Minangkabau, Mentawai, and Mandailing. But there is the finding of a new language in the region, namely Tansi language. So, at least until today, there are four languages existing in West Sumatra. "Looking ahead, through linguistic research to see the historical, social, and cultural backgrounds, it is possible that this treasure of language would develop again," said Elsa Putri Ermisah Syafril while defending her dissertation entitled Tansi Language in Sawahlunto city in an open examination of Humanities Sciences Doctoral Program (Linguistics) at the Multimedia Room of R.M. Margono Djojohadikusumo Building, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM on Tuesday (2/11).
Elsa said that Tansi language is a creole language with a background in labor and inhabitants in the interior. In addition to making Tansi language as a first creole language in Indonesia that is born from a background in labor and inhabitants in the interior, this finding also opened the possibility that creole languages in western Indonesia are not synonymous with commercial background and always exist in coastal areas. "Tansi Language is the first Indonesian creole language that was born with a background in labor and inhabitants in the interior," he said.
Tansi Language, qualitatively (historical, social, and cultural) is a language derived from the lowest social group in the colonial social structure in Sawahlunto. While in theory, Tansi language is initially a pidgin language because the language is polygenetic, derived from a mixture of some languages of various miners ethnic, such as the Minangkabau, Javanese, Chinese, Madurese, Sundanese, Bugis, Balinese, and Batak, with basic language of Malay language, and there are Dutch elements. "It can be proven with examples, such as the use of the preference for older people from different languages in the language of Tansi in general," said Elsa.
In line with the development of time, Tansi language in the city of Sawahlunto continued to be spoken for more than 100 years until the next offspring due to mixed marriages between children of miners and it is spoken as mother tongue in the public. However, the use of Tansi language in the present has changed towards a more standard (decreolisation) very quickly, as evidenced by changes in the structure of language. "To prove this, I have incorporated a combination of research methods, namely qualitative and quantitative methods, and those are related to sociolinguistic anthropological study," said the woman who was born in Sawahlunto, 27 November 1977.
The study, according to Elsa, in particular has raised public awareness of Sawahlunto of their own identity. They are actively involved and participate to find that identity, and find the fact that they are part of pluralistic and multiethnic society.
Later, the dissertation is expected to be a consideration for the Sawahlunto Government. First, to preserve the existence of the Tansi (workers) creole language from extinction caused by the decreolisation process (development of creole language toward a language that considers Tansi as a second language for the speakers). Second, preservation efforts of Tansi language in various literatures, such as writing Tonil (play) and historical manuscripts. "More in-depth research is needed, especially about its language structures, involving linguists and language institutes," said Elsa who completed the study of S-1 at the University of Andalas and S-2 at the State University of Jakarta.
In front of the examiners, namely Dr. Ida Rochani Adi, S.U., Prof. Dr. I Dewa Putu Wijana, S.U., M.A., Prof. Dr. Soepomo Poedjosoedarmo, Dr. Inyo Yos Fernandez, Dr. F.X. Nadar, M.A., and Dr. Amir Ma’ruf, M. Hum. Elsa managed to graduate with honors.