JURNAL ILMIAH MAKSITEK Vol. 5 No. 3 ISSN. 2655-4399 September 2020 THE REVITALIZATION OF BATAKNESE LANGUAGE 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, Tanjungbalai 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, Batak ethnic is one of the old ethnics in Indonesia 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 Sumatra, 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 - languages and customs (adat). In North Sumatra, 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 Regency, Humbang Hasundutan Regency, Samosir Regency, North Tapanuli Regency, part of Dairi Regency, Central Tapanuli Regency, Sibolga and its surrounding regions.[1] The Batak Toba people speak in the Toba Batak language and are centered on Lake Toba 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 JURNAL ILMIAH MAKSITEK Vol. 5 No. 3 ISSN. 2655-4399 September 2020 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 Dutch language means, section); and today it is known as regency or city, namely:- A. Afdeling Padang Sidempuan, which later became South Tapanuli Regency, Mandailing Natal Regency, Padang Lawas Regency, North Padang Lawas Regency and Padang Sidempuan. B. Afdeling Nias, which later became Nias Regency and South Nias Regency. 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 Pakpak Bharat Regency. Japanese occupation: During the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies, 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 language family. 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 Medan 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 writing system from southern Sumatra. 2 JURNAL ILMIAH MAKSITEK Vol. 5 No. 3 ISSN. 2655-4399 September 2020 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