Regional Language Preservation Starts With Family, Not Just Cultural Heritage

JAKARTA - Regional languages are not only communication tools, but also identity and reflection of cultural values passed down from generation to generation. In the modern era like now, families play an important role in keeping regional languages alive and used in their daily lives.

Without the habit of speaking in mother tongue at home, the younger generation risks losing their closeness to their own cultural roots.

Minister of Basic and Secondary Education Prof. Abdul Mu'ti assessed that preserving regional languages as mother tongue requires a strong commitment from each family.

"This (preserving) includes our duty because this regional language is an Indonesian cultural wealth that must be preserved. And of course, the first way is the commitment of each family to get used to using regional languages," he said in Semarang, as quoted by ANTARA.

He conveyed this in a discussion entitled 'Language Room and Story with the Minister' which was held by the Central Java Language Hall.

According to him, regional languages do not only function as a means of communication, but also as a medium for character formation and planting the value of character.

"If we use the Javanese language that is good and correct, it will already be illustrated how etiquette is part of life in the family and also life in society," said Mu'ti.

He gave an example of Javanese which has different levels of speech, such as Ngoko for peers and Krama to talk to older people. This system, he said, reflects manners and respect that have been a part of Javanese people's lives for centuries.

Therefore, he emphasized the importance of discipline in using the language, both Indonesian and regional languages, as part of efforts to maintain the nation's cultural heritage.

"This is our way of preserving regional languages as wealth and also as part of a culture that we must preserve together," he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Language and Literature Development Center, the Language Development and Development Agency, Imam Budi Utomo, added that the government through its institutions continues to strive to maintain the existence of regional languages so that they are still used in education and the community.

"To support the language and literary development and development program in Central Java, the Central Java Provincial Language Center has a superior product called the Javanese Term Ceremony (Sibaja) which can currently be used by students and teachers in learning at school," he said.

In addition, his party also carries out various literacy activities, including literacy strengthening workshops for students and teachers.

"By 2025, we have selected at least 120 story books of Java-Indonesian language children in a translation program to support the enrichment of literacy materials," he explained.

He also appealed to the public to use the collection of reading materials for free.

"People can take advantage of it for free by submitting applications or by accessing our library pages," he concluded.