Researcher: Indigenous Regional Languages In Maluku Are Threatened With Extinction, This Must Be Anticipated Immediately

Interactive Dialogue "Language and Law: Legal Language and Legal Language" held by the Maluku Provincial Language Office (Photo: Shariva Alaidrus/Antara)

JAKARTA - Harlin Turiah, a language researcher, stated that several regional languages in Maluku are threatened with extinction due to the decreasing number of native speakers among young people, and the lack of efforts for preservation and revitalization. over time, the language that should be part of culture just disappears," said Harlin Turiah, a Language Researcher from the Maluku Provincial Language Office in Ambon, Wednesday, November 3. He said that compared to other provinces, especially eastern Indonesia, such as Papua and East Nusa Tenggara, the native language of the Maluku region is in the first place that is threatened with extinction over time. In addition to the decreasing number of native speakers among young people, the lack of efforts by the government and local communities to preserve and protect their language through daily learning is a major factor against the extinction of the sa area.

Harlin gave an example of the Masarete language from Buru Regency. Currently there is only one native speaker of the language and he is more than 80 years old. If the knowledge of the Masarete language and communication from native speakers is not transferred immediately, it will be completely extinct, just like the Lowon language. The Lowon language from Latea Village, North West Seram District, Central Maluku Regency, was declared extinct after the only native speaker of the language died. the world in the event of an earthquake natural disaster five years ago. "One of the biggest linguistic threats in Indonesia is in Maluku, faster than several other provinces such as Papua and East Nusa Tenggara, because there is no effort for preservation or revitalization from the government and society. "He said again, there are currently 62 native Maluku languages that have been recorded on the Language Map of the Ministry of Education and Culture (Kemendikbud), including Alune, Ambalau, Asilulu, Balkewan, Banda, Barakay, Batulei, Bobar, Boing. , Buru, Damar Timur and Dawelor. The Maluku Provincial Language Office, a year ago, proposed the Koa language with speakers The originals are the Mausu Ane Tribe in Central Maluku Regency, Emar Language from Kesui Island and Taul Language from Atiahu Village, Siwalalat District, Eastern Seram Regency to add to the 62 regional languages that have been recorded. This year, the Maluku Provincial Language Office again proposed two other languages. to the Ministry of Education and Culture, namely the Teor and Bati languages from the Eastern Seram Regency so that they are included in the Language Map. Native speakers are responsible for their regional languages, so they must be revitalized and spoken daily, both formally and non-formally in educational institutions or at traditional meetings," said Harlin Turiah.