Many regional languages today are endangered due to a lack of preservation by their speakers, the absence of teaching in schools, and limited attention from local governments.
One of the regional languages currently being researched by a team from UGM is the Enggano language, spoken on Enggano Island, North Bengkulu Regency, Bengkulu Province. It is now at high risk of extinction.
Professor Wening Udasmoro, a researcher of the Enggano language from the UGM Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB UGM), stated that the Enggano language is becoming increasingly vulnerable to extinction, as only about 30% of the Enggano people still use it in their daily lives.
“I observed several tribal leaders in Enggano. Ironically, they did not recognize the Enggano language written by foreigners. This indicates that the pronunciation and articulation of the Enggano language are very distinct from other languages in general,” said Professor Udasmoro.
This speech was delivered during the Talk Show “Synergy and Action in Efforts to Preserve Regional Languages” and the screening of the film Senja Kala Bahasa Enggano at the Soegondo Auditorium, FIB UGM, on Wednesday (Oct. 23).
Dr. Aprillia Firmonasari, a linguist from FIB UGM, explained that the Enggano language is under serious threat, with the number of speakers decreasing.
Although she has never been to Enggano, Dr. Firmonasari said she has supervised students researching the extinction of this language.
She cited recent data from the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL), which shows that eleven languages in Indonesia are endangered, and the loss of one language means the loss of invaluable cultural heritage.
“There may be a need for preservation efforts so that we can strategize to save endangered languages,” she remarked.
UGM anthropologist Professor Heddy Shri Ahimsa-Putra expressed a similar view, emphasizing the need for strategies to address the situation, such as systematically teaching regional languages in schools.
“There must be teachers willing to become regional language instructors. Unfortunately, many people who use regional languages do not know their grammar,” he stated.
He noted that regional language textbooks need to be developed comprehensively. With 700 regional languages, many teachers are needed to teach these languages.
However, only a few people have in-depth knowledge of regional grammar. One solution he proposed is establishing a language museum where people can learn and listen to conversations in regional languages. Additionally, ethnoscience can be utilized to enrich knowledge about these languages.
Dr. Hatma Suryatmojo, Director of Academic Studies and Innovation at UGM and producer of the documentary Senja Kala Bahasa Enggano, stated that they made the documentary because there are many ways to convey important messages to the public, one of which is through audiovisual media.
Documentary videos, in particular, are highly relevant, especially for younger generations who prefer visual content.
“From this perspective, the documentary on the Enggano language serves not only as a means of education but also as a tool for advocating the preservation of endangered cultures and languages,” he said.
Moreover, the Enggano language was chosen because Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) partners with the Bengkulu Provincial Government to promote various aspects of Enggano Island.
Through this collaboration, Enggano Island is used as a field laboratory for UGM, allowing various research and community service programs to be conducted there.
“Through the Community Service Program (KKN-PPM), UGM students are also involved in gathering information and understanding the cultural and linguistic conditions on the island,” he added.
The documentary Senja Kala Bahasa Enggano portrays the Enggano language in a critical state, with a declining number of speakers.
The tribal leader, or Papuki, in Enggano, conveyed this. He noted that parents in the community often use Indonesian daily, resulting in their children rarely being exposed to the Enggano language.
Author: Lintang
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Afif