162 Influenced Factors Towards the Language Shift
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Kajian Linguistik dan Sastra, Vol 25, No 2, Desember 2013, 162-192 INFLUENCED FACTORS TOWARDS THE LANGUAGE SHIFT PHENOMENON OF WOTUNESE Masruddin STAIN Palopo [email protected] ABSTRACT This study aims to find out the factors influence on the language shift of Wotunese. This study was carried out in two villages namely Lampenai Village and Bawalipu Village, Wotu District, East Luwu Regency. The method used was field survey by distributing questionnaire, interviewing and direct observation for 400 Wotunese, interview the informant sample comprised 400 males and females of Wotunese who live in Wotu area at least 10 years. Their ages are around 10 up to 50 years old. The results show that the determinant factors influence significantly on language shift of Wotunese are age, mobilization, bilingualism and language attitude. Then, the government and the wotunese should do some real actions to save Wotu language from the death language phenomenon. Key words: Language shift, Wotunese, Determinant Factors ABSTRAK Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi pergeseran bahasa Wotu. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan di dua desa yakni Desa Lampenai dan Desa Bawalipu Kecamatan Wotu Kabupaten Luwu Timur. Metode yang digunakan adalah metode survei lapangan dengan membagikan angket, wawancara, dan pengamatan langsung terhadap 400 warga masyarakat Wotu. Ke- 400 informan tersebut terdiri dari pria dan wanita yang telah tinggal minimal 10 tahun di daerah Wotu. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pergeseran bahasa Wotu sangat dipengaruhi oleh usia, tingkat mobilisasi, kedwibahasaan, dan sikap bahasa. Selanjutnya, pemerintah dan masyarakat Wotu haruslah melakukan tindakan nyata untuk menghindarkan bahasa Wotu dari peristiwa kematian bahasa. Kata kunci: Pergeseran Bahasa, Masyarakat Wotu, Faktor Penyebab Introduction (Bathula, 2004). And then, UNESCO Many linguists predict that by the reports (see Purwa, 2000; Louder, 1999) next century, about half of the world’s five that every year there are 10 languages die or six thousand languages will be extinct out. In addition, Erick (2008) states that (Nettle and Romaine 2000:7). Currently, the number of languages loss in the world there are 6.912 languages used by world increases year by year and it is predicted societies (Grimes in Ethnologue 15th that 3000 languages in the world will be edition). Then, a prediction states that died up during 100 years. there will be only 600 exist in this world 162 Influence Factors Towards The Language ... Masruddin Grimes (2000) states that from resting in themselves. The death of a around 6.000 languages in the world, language always implies the loss of human 330 languages have one million or more intellectual achievement. Second, linguists speakers. Then around 450 languages agree that it is important to study as many in the world have a very small number different languages as possible to find out of speaker, old speakers and tend to be more about language faculty and the way death languages (Ibrahim, G.A., 2011). the human brain works. Furthermore, Furthermore, in Indonesian context, languages contain our history. The Machmoed (2008) states that many young vocabulary of a language “provides us with generations of minority language leave clues about the earlier states of mind of its their language because of forcing from the speakers, and about the kinds of cultural national language “pengindonesiaan” and contacts they had” (Crystal, 2000: 34-35). the effect of globalization era. Moreover, languages reflect and transmit In Indonesia, there have been culture. If a language dies, the culture to many people leave their local languages, which it belonged will be threatened and therefore, many of the local languages may also die out. Thus, language loss is have become moribund and on occasion, likely to lead to an increasing cultural unfortunately, died out languages. uniformity. Without cultural diversity (Machmoed, 2008). Furthermore, Kalla, in the world would not only be a far less metro TV news (2007) stated that; 30% of interesting place but also, very possibly, a 745 local languages in Indonesia have died. stagnant one, since we would all have very This statement implies that there is a threat similar ideas and values (Trudgill, 1991: to the existence of local languages as part 67-68). of our country’s wealth. It is likely that this In addition, the importance of doing situation will continue; subsequently, many research on language shift on a minority languages will be lost to future generations. language such as in Wotu is to find out And if it happens, sadly, we will lose our the data about “language vitality”. Vitality pride as a big country “Bhineka Tunggal means the power to live or grow (http// Ika” (Unity in Diversity). Therefore, it dictionaryreference.com), in addition, needs a solution in order to solve this vitality means the property of being able problem. We should find out the way how to to survive and grow (www.audioenglish. stop this situation and how to save our local net/dictionary). It is important as the languages from death in order to inherit requirement for reversing or maintaining it to the next generation. The challenge a language and it is a requirement for moving forward is to stifle the penchant to working on a minority language. Then it ignore local languages. Rather than seeing also will give the point of view indicator, bilingualism as a weakness there needs to belief, choice and the speakers’ wants about be a balanced approach to the acquisition their language. Finally it will give indicator of the more dominant languages. Then by of belief and chance of implementation of a opening up discussion on the decline of policy (Baker, 1992: 9). local languages, it can be a base to take the In order to understand the steps towards changing people’s attitudes phenomenon of shift, most sociolinguistic to the importance of language and identity. studies of language shift have focused The importance of saving threatened on identifying its probable causes and languages can hardly be disputed. The factors most associated with promoting reasons for protecting minority languages or hindering the process. Indeed, various are manifold. First, languages are inte- models have been developed in an attempt 163 Kajian Linguistik dan Sastra, Vol 25, No 2, Desember 2013, 162-192 to isolate a specific set of sociolinguistic 5.036. (Central Board of Statistics Board and linguistic factors that can be used to of East Luwu Regency, 2007). Wotunese predict the occurrence of language shift, live together with the other ethnic groups incorporating such variables as age, gender, who come as immigrants in that area, language attitudes, community size, the such as Buginese, Makassarese, Javanese, cultural distance between the majority and Torajanese and they keep using their own minority language and societal language local languages. Based on the data from policy (Romaine, 1989). However, what preliminary observation research through has been found applicable to one particular interview with the Wotunese, some said community has not necessarily been that nowadays only very small number of found applicable to another. The fact that Wotunese who keep using Wotu language. most communities are characterized by Furthermore, most of the Wotunese do not some internal variation in the social and really master the language but just know linguistic experiences of their members a little about the Wotu language. Only the adds to complexity of the situation. In older, more than 50 years old people, who addition, Fasold (1984:217) states it is too are able to master it. Currently, Bahasa easy to find cases in which some speech Indonesia and Buginese languages are community is exposed to the same factors, the dominant languages used in the areas but has maintained their languages. populated by the Wotu people. In schools, Language shift and maintenance as a Bahasa Indonesia is used as a language part of macro sociolinguistics can provide of instructions in all levels of education: clear answers about the causes of why Kindergarten, Elementary Schools, Junior languages are no longer used. Therefore, High School, and Senior High Schools. it needs to conduct many researches about Beside English as national curriculum, the language shift in Indonesia. Buginese also is taught at schools as local Bahasa Wotu is one of the minority load teaching in the schools’ curriculum. languages in South Sulawesi. The In their daily life, the people in that existence of Bahasa Wotu as a language area mostly use Bahasa Indonesia and not as a dialect was supported by some Buginese, it is rarely found the people to use researchers, such as Salombe et.al (1987) Wotu language. When the Wotunese meet from Hasanuddin University, Vail (1987) with the other tribes, they seldom introduce from The Summer Institute of Linguistics. their language, and most of Wotunese, Dola (2003) states that the speakers of especially the young generation are shy to this language are about 4000 people and speak Wotu language. They prefer to use the active speakers are less 500 people. In Buginese in their daily life conversation in addition most of the active speakers are society. Then in formal situation absolutely upper 50 years old people. In addition, they use Bahasa Indonesia. Therefore, Dola (2003) states that it is estimated, in we just can hear Wotu language when short times, it will not serve as a lingua certain older people use it at their homes. franca among the Wotunese any longer. In addition, in public places such as in Furthermore, the speakers of Wotu the market, mosque etc, most people use language reside in the Wotu district, East Bahasa Indonesia and Buginese. Luwu Regency, South Sulawesi Province. This study focuses on the language They live predominantly in two villages shift phenomenon of Wotunese in East namely Lampenai Village and Bawalipu Luwu , which is assumed as an endangered Village. The number of population in language.