Community Plays Vital Role in Keeping Betawi Language Alive

The Head of the Banten Language Office, Devyanti Asmalasari, has stated that communities play a vital role in keeping the Betawi language alive through various traditional activities, including the arts. “Communities play an important role, because while schools teach the Betawi language, it is the community that brings it to life. A language lives through its community,” she said during the Jakarta Cultural Symposium 2026 on Thursday. Besides the community, the family unit is also a primary node in the preservation of regional languages, including Betawi, as it serves as the medium of instruction in conversations between family members. According to Devyanti, a regional language lives because it is used, passed down, and valued. Therefore, it must be ensured that the ecosystem for language inheritance functions well. She added that this requires cross-sector support, including from the government, language institutions, language agencies and offices, schools, and universities that conduct studies. Furthermore, support is needed from communities, the media to enliven regional languages in public spaces, as well as the creative industry, the business world, and the general public. “There are many components, starting from the family, schools, communities, public spaces, digital media, and also the creative industry that can form a language inheritance ecosystem, so that the Betawi language can be passed on in every language domain,” she said. Devyanti noted that the Betawi language is an authentic part of Jakarta and can enhance the city’s competitiveness as a global city. However, she observed a decline in the number of Betawi speakers, especially among the younger generation. One contributing factor is the perception that global languages are ‘cooler’, leading to a reluctance to use Betawi. She stressed the need to foster a sense of pride, loyalty, and awareness among the Betawi community regarding their language. “Actually, for local governments, there are already clear regulations mandating that they must carry out the preservation of the regional languages in their areas,” Devyanti concluded.