JURNAL ILMIAH MAKSITEK Vol. 5 No. 3 ISSN. 2655-4399 September 2020

THE REVITALIZATION OF BATAKNESE IN TANJUNG BALAI : A STUDY CASE AT SEI TUALANG RASO TANJUNG BALAI, NORTH SUMATERA

RANI FAIRUS SEKOLAH TINGGI EKONOMI AL-HIKMAH [email protected]

Abstract-The study was conducted to find out the revitalization of Bataknese language in Tanjung Balai. The subject of the study was 123 households in three streets in Sei Tualang Raso subdistrict, city. This research design was qualitative descriptive design. The instrument for collecting the data was questionnaire. The data was analyzed by reading the result of questionnaires which have been filled by respondents. The result of analysis showed that: 1) Increase the proficiency speakers of Bataknese language. The skill of the language proficiency includes listening, speaking, reading and writing. (2) Grow positive attitude towards bataknese language. (3) Expand the use of bataknese language distribution. Spreading the use of bataknese language can be done by means of print, electronic, device cyberspace. Keywords: Bataknese, History of Bataknese, and Revitalization

INTRODUCTION Language revitalization can be viewed as a form of language policy that seeks to halt and reverse this process of shift: different policy measures are adopted with the aim of ensuring that a vulnerable language community does not decline and disappear, but rather demonstrates 'a new-found vigour' (Paulston, 1993: 279). This, it is claimed, will occur when policy steps successfully address a range of factors that influence a language's overall level of 'vitality' (Giles et al, 1977). These include: demographic factors relating to the numbers that speak as well as their distribution throughout the population and across the generations; sociolinguistic factors relating to the level of use made of the language in a range of social domains, such as the family home, the education system, the workplace and the media; political-institutional factors relating to the level of support accorded to the language through the policies and work-practices of government (state or regional) as well as other prominent public and private institutions; economic factors relating to the professional status and the material wealth possessed by speakers of the language; psychological factors relating to the attitudes of different individuals and communities towards the language as well as the level of status or prestige attributed to it; and finally, linguistic factors relating to the condition of the language itself, in particular, its degree of standardization, graphitization and modernization.Furthermore, ethnic is one of the old ethnics in which comes from North Sumatera. Batak ethnics consists of some sub-ethnics, lived in North Sumatera Region. As one of old ethnics in Indonesia, bataknese is rich of culture. For instance, in their daily life, Bataknese uses some dialects, such as Karo dialects, Pakpak dialects, Simalungun dialects and Toba dialects. Batak language are spken approximately 2,5 million people in 1967. Although there are some differences dialects, speaker who speak Batak Language caleed as Batak generally.This study aim is to explore the concept of revitalization in term of language planning. Because revitalization concerns to some term of language shift, language management and also language death. It will enrich for those concern in this ideas as the references and foresight.

Bataknese Batak is a collective term used to identify a number of ethnic groups predominantly found in North , Indonesia. The term is used to include the Karo, Pakpak, Simalungun, Toba, Angkola, and Mandailing which are distinct but related groups with distinct - albeit related - and customs (adat). In , Toba people typically assert their identity as 'Batak', while other 'Batak' may explicitly reject that label, preferring instead to identify as specifically 'Mandailing' and 'Karo' people. Toba people (also referred to as Batak Toba people or often simply "Batak") are the most numerous of the Batak people of North Sumatra, Indonesia, and often considered the classical 'Batak', most likely to willingly self-identify as Batak. The Toba people are found in Toba Samosir , Humbang Hasundutan Regency, , , part of , , and its surrounding regions.[1] The Batak Toba people speak in the Toba Batak language and are centered on and Samosir Island within the lake. Batak Toba people frequently build in traditional Batak architecture styles which are common on Samosir. Cultural demonstrations, performances and festivities such as Sigale Gale are often held for tourists. Sometimes Batak people accept those of traditional Formosa (Taiwan). 1

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History of Bataknese During the time when the Batak kingdom was based in Bakara, the Sisingamangaraja dynasty of the Batak kingdom divided their kingdom into four regions by the name of Raja Maropat, which are: A. Raja Maropat Silindung B. Raja Maropat Samosir C. Raja Maropat Humbang D. Raja Maropat Toba Dutch colonization: During the Dutch colonization, the Dutch formed Tapanuli Residency (country subdivision) in 1910. The Tapanuli Residency (country subdivision) is divided into four regions that is called afdeling (in means, section); and today it is known as regency or city, namely:- A. Afdeling Sidempuan, which later became , , , North Padang Lawas Regency and Padang Sidempuan. B. Afdeling , which later became and . C. Afdeling Sibolga and Ommnenlanden, today it is Central Tapanuli Regency and Sibolga. D. Afdeling Bataklanden, which later became North Tapanuli Regency, Humbang Hasundutan Regency, Toba Samosir Regency, Samosir Regency, Dairi Regency and . Japanese occupation: During the Japanese occupation of the Dutch , the administration of the Tapanuli Residency (country subdivision) had little changes. Post independence of Indonesia: After the independence, the government of Indonesia retain Tapanuli as Residency (country subdivision). Dr. Ferdinand Lumban Tobing became the first Tapanuli Resident (title). Although there were changes made to the name, but the division of the region was still the same. For example, the name of Afdeling Bataklanden was changed to Luhak Tanah Batak and the first luhak (federated region) appointed was Cornelius Sihonbing; who was once also a Demang (chief) Silindung. The title Onderafdeling (in Dutch language means, subdivision) is also changed to urung, and demangs that surpervises onderafdeling are promoted as kepala (head) urung. Onderdistrik (subdistrict) then became urung kecil, and is supervised by kepala urung kecil; which was previously known as assistant demang. Just as it was in the past, the government of the Tapanuli Residency (country subdivision) were divided into four districts, namely:- A. Silindung Regency B. Samosir Regency C. Humbang Regency D. Toba Regency Transfer of sovereignty in early 1950: Toba head with his family in their home with beautifully carved head of Toba family (adathuis) Tapanoeli, North Sumatra, circa 1900. During the transfer of sovereignty in early 1950s, the Tapanuli Residency (country subdivision) that was unified into North Sumatra province were divided into four new regencies, namely:- A. North Tapanuli Regency (previously known as Tanah Batak Regency) B. Central Tapanuli Regency (previously known as Sibolga Regency) C. South Tapanuli Regency (previously known as Padang Sidempuan Regency) D. Nias Regency Present: In December 2008, the Tapanuli Residency (country subdivision) was unified under North Sumatra province. At the moment, Toba is under the Toba Samosir Regency's region with Balige as its capital.The Batak speak a variety of closely related languages, all members of the Austronesian . There are two major branches, a northern branch comprising the Pakpak-Dairi, Alas-Kluet and Karo languages, which are similar to each other, and a distinct southern branch, comprising three mutually intelligible dialects: Toba, Angkola and Mandailing. Simalungun is an early offspring of the southern branch. Some Simalungun dialects can be understood by speakers of Batak Karo, whereas other dialects of Simalungun can be understood by speakers of Toba. This is due to the existence of a linguistic continuum that often blurs the lines between the Batak dialects. Batak dialect still influences the dialects in city today. The Batak possess their own script known as the Surat Batak. The writing has chiefly ceremonial importance within traditional religious ceremonies, and was subject to little change for this reason. It is likely that the Batak people originally received their from southern Sumatra.

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Language Shift There are many ways of defining endangered languages, the most simplistic being those having below a given critical number of speakers. Size is important, there are a variety of social, economic, political and religious factors that influence whether or not parents will continue transmitting their language to their children.Dorian (1980) lists three signs of language shift: fewer speakers, fewer domains of use, and structural simplification. Krauss (1992), comparing endangered languages to endangered biological species, defines three categories of languages: moribund: 'languages no longer being learned as mother-tongue by children' ; endangered: 'languages which, though now still being learned by children, will--if the present conditions continue--cease to be learned by children during the coming century' ; and safe: languages with 'official state support and very large numbers of speakers'. The Bataknese language in some areas in Tanjungbalai started shifting to the . The situation is like this, since although the people have Bataknese blood in their vein, they can no longer speak Bataknese language. Bataknese poeple in Tanjungbalai use Malay language at home, in the neighborhood, at school, and at the places where they work. Bataknese language already started to become endangered in some areas of Tanjungbalai. Therefore,in order to revitalize the language, there is a large need for promotion as well as ocumentation of the language.

Language Revitalization Language revitalization can be viewed as a form of language policy that seeks to halt and reverse this process of shift: different policy measures are adopted with the aim of ensuring that a vulnerable language community does not decline and disappear, but rather demonstrates 'a new-found vigour' (Paulston, 1993: 279). This, it is claimed, will occur when policy steps successfully address a range of factors that influence a language's overall level of 'vitality' (Giles et al, 1977). These include: demographic factors relating to the numbers that speak as well as their distribution throughout the population and across the generations; sociolinguistic factors relating to the level of use made of the language in a range of social domains, such as the family home, the education system, the workplace and the media; political-institutional factors relating to the level of support accorded to the language through the policies and work-practices of government (state or regional) as well as other prominent public and private institutions; economic factors relating to the professional status and the material wealth possessed by speakers of the language; psychological factors relating to the attitudes of different individuals and communities towards the language as well as the level of status or prestige attributed to it; and finally, linguistic factors relating to the condition of the language itself, in particular, its degree of standardization, graphitization and modernization (see, for example, Fishman, 1991; Edwards, 1992; Spolsky, 1996; UNESCO, 2003; Tsunoda, 2005; Grenoble and Whaley 2006; Hinton, 2011).As this discussion above implies, we draw a conceptual distinction between language revitalization, or what Fishman (1991) calls reversing language shift, and language maintenance, which supports a language that is truly vital. Whereas the goal of revitalization is to increase the relative number of speakers of a language and extend the domains where it is employed, maintenance serves to protect current levels and domains of use. Revitalization almost always requires changing community attitudes about a language, while maintenance seeks to protect against the imposition of outside attitudes. In theory the difference between the two is quite clear. However, in practical terms the distinction is often unimportant, as the dividing line between the need for maintenance and revitalization is inexact and, regardless, the programs involved in both can be very similar. Therefore, most of what is found in the following chapters is of equal relevance to both maintenance and revitalization situations, yet we continue to use the two terms distinctly.In response, over the past few decades, policy programmes that seek to promote language revitalization have gradually become more systematic and far-reaching in their scope, encompassing a range of regulatory, distributive and constituent instruments, and touching on key social domains, including the family home, the education system, the media, the economy and civil society (Williams, 2013). Given the types factors that have been highlighted as ones that need to be considered as part of language revitalization efforts, it should be no surprise that sociolinguists have also emphasized that those engaged in such efforts need to be awake to changes in the nature of the general social, economic and political context within which they operate (Fishman, 1991). With this in mind, the rest of the section goes on to consider what are the main features of the fast-changing social context that characterizes life in most Western societies today, and that provides a backdrop to contemporary language revitalization efforts. The discussion is organised thematically: first it focuses on important socio-demographic trends, second it considers major economic trends, and third it reflects on significant political trends.

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RESEARCH METHOD

This study was conducted by applying qualitative descriptive design. Qualitative descriptive design means that the data collected is in the form of words rather than numers (Bogdan and Biklen, 1992). In descriptive qualitative, the researcher analyzed the data with all the richness as closely as possible with the what can be found in the field (natural setting). In this study, qualitative descriptive desgin is used to uncover the revitalization of Bataknese language in Tanjungbalai. Furthermore, the research designs were based on questionnaire distributed to every head of house in three streets of Tanjungbalai especially in Sei Tualang Raso subdistrict. The source of data for this study is informants. The writers distributed questionnaires which asked about things around their native ethnic group and their language use in their everyday’s life. We took 123 households in three streets in Sei Tualang Raso subdistrict, Tanjungbalai city. The data was gathered by asking every household to fill the questionnaires. A questionnaire is a research instrument consisting of a series of questions and other prompts for the purpose of gathering information from respondents (Gault: 1907). The data was analyzed by reading the result of questionnaires which have been filled by respondents and interpreting it to get information which is needed and finally gave the conclusion based on the interpretation.

RESULTS In the following the writer presents the analysis of the questionnaire result which have been filled by respondents. Here is the result of analysis. The Need of Bataknese Language Revitalization among Bataknese families Firstly, the writer would like to explain the condition of ethnicity of the families which became the respondents. This is to find out whether the total respondents are majority of people with Bataknese blood or not. The total of family is 123 families. Of these, there are 101 families or around 82 % which have background of Bataknese ethnic whether it is from the head of families or from the wives. The rest comes from Malay as much as 22 families or around 18 %. It can be said that the area has the majority of Bataknese ethnic people. Table 1. Family ethnic background No. Family Number of families Percentage (%) 1 Bataknese 101 82 2 Malay 22 18 3 Others 0 0 Next, after knowing that the majority of this area comes from Bataknese ethnic, we need to know the language used by all the families. All the respondents from Bataknese family cannot use Bataknese language. However, they can use Malay language. The data shows the total number of respondents that is 123 use Malay language.

Table 2. Bataknese language use among Bataknese family No. Bataknese and the language Number of families Percentage 1 Bataknese who use Malay 101 100 2 Bataknese who use Bataknese language 0 0% From the data analysis above, we can see that all the families with Bataknese background cannot use Bataknese language at all. Instead of Bataknese language, they use Malay language in their everyday life. Thus, the effort to conduct Bataknese language revitalization is needed in this area. This is done in order to preserve the Bataknese language existence as one of the components of Indonesian culture.

The way to conduct Bataknese Language Revitalization The writer in this case, as to how to to conduct Language revitalization of Bataknese language refers to Amrin Saragih’s idea. Although the article written is for Simalungun language , the research in this case considered that the idea is also appropriate to be applied in the effort of Bataknese language revitalization. Thus, the researcher chose to adopt the idea as follows: Increase the proficiency speakers of bataknese language . The skill of the language proficiency includes listening, speaking, reading and writing. These skills can be done through formal education by incorporating local languages as 4

JURNAL ILMIAH MAKSITEK Vol. 5 No. 3 ISSN. 2655-4399 September 2020 school subjects. In addition, these skills can be done in a non-formal, for example through organized training of individuals and entities or private institutions. Learning programs and the acquisition of bataknese language can be done intensively and extensively through the use of the virtual world. (2) Grow positive attitude towards bataknese language. Different types of activities can be done to foster a positive attitude towards bataknese language, for example do contest by writing literature, art, customs, resam, and culture simalungun, the debate in the bataknese language, gifts, incentives, or a tribute to the meritorious figure or achievement in the development of bataknese language. Other activities can be done in the form of an annual event to return home when the days of religious celebration, a day of national celebration, arts and cultural performances simalungun. This activity can be attributed to tourism policy. (3) Expand the use of bataknese language distribution. Spreading the use of bataknese language can be done by means of print, electronic, device cyberspace. Magazine in the bataknese language, radio or television broadcasts in bataknese language is a means to disseminate the use of bataknese language.

CONCLUSION Bataknese language is one of the hundreds of language possessed by our multicultural country, Indonesia. Thus, it is so sad if Bataknese language can cease to exist from this country. This early indication can be seen from the condition of Tanjungbalai people who have Bataknese blood running through their vein but can’t even use Bataknese language at all. This should be prevented. That’s why this research can hopefully become the first movement to save Bataknese language from the extinction.

REFERENCES Dorian, Nancy C. 1980. Language shift in community and individual: The phenomenon of the laggard Grenoble, Linore A & Whalley, Lindsay, J. Saving Languages : An Introduction to Language Revitalization. Cambridge University Press : USA. 2006 Gault, RH. 1907. A History of the Questionnaire method of Research in Psychology. Research in Psychology. Krauss, Michael. 1992. The world's languages in crisis. Lewis, H & Roylis, E. Language Revitalisation and Social Transformation: Evaluating the Language Policy Frameworks of Sub-state Governments in Wales and Scotland. Aberystwyth University: Wales. Journal International Sahaan, Nalom. Sedjarah Kebudajaan Batak: Suatu Studi tentang Suku Batak (Toba, Angkola, Mandailing, Simelungun, Pakpak Dairi, Karo). 1964 semi-speaker. International Journal of the Sociology of Language 25.85-94. Saragih, A. 2016. Variation and Functional Varieties of Language. Unimed Press: Medan

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