BPPB revitalises regional languages in Babel to prevent extinction

Pangkalpinang (ANTARA) - The Badan Pengembangan dan Pembinaan Bahasa (BPPB) of the Republic of Indonesia is carrying out the revitalisation of regional languages in Bangka Belitung province to prevent the extinction of those languages. “We are revitalising these regional languages so that they do not become extinct,” said the Head of BPPB, Hafidz Muksin, while attending the inauguration of the Babel Language Office building in Pangkalpinang on Monday. He stated that there are currently 718 regional languages in Indonesia, and to ensure these regional languages do not become extinct, the Badan Pengembangan dan Pembinaan Bahasa, through provincial-level Language Offices, must revitalise these regional languages. “The revitalisation of regional languages can be carried out through learning and language competitions in regional languages at primary, secondary, and high school levels,” he said. He invited parents to use regional languages in their homes so that their children can and become accustomed to speaking regional languages. “I hope that parents pass on the regional language to their children, so that this language remains sustainable in both formal and non-formal activities,” he said. “We hope that the community makes use of the Babel Islands Language Office to increase literacy, so that they can speak regional languages and Indonesian correctly and properly,” he said.