Language Centre Warns Duano and Kerinci Languages in Jambi Face Extinction Threat
Jambi City (ANTARA) - The Jambi Province Language Centre has stated that the Bajau Tungkal Satu (or Duability) and Kerinci languages are facing the threat of extinction alongside a decline in the use and number of speakers of these regional languages.
“This condition needs to be a shared concern because regional languages are part of the identity and cultural wealth of the Jambi people, which must be passed on to the next generation,” said the Head of the Jambi Province Language Centre, Muhammad Zaki, in Jambi on Wednesday.
Based on the Language Map published by the Language Development and Fostering Agency, Zaki noted that there are seven languages used in Jambi Province: Malay, Banjar, Bajau Tungkal Satu, Bugis, Javanese, Kerinci, and Minangkabau.
“Three of these seven are native languages of Jambi, namely Malay, Bajau Tungkal Satu (or Duano), and Kerinci, while the other four are migration languages,” he said.
Jambi Malay is generally still widely used by the community. However, several local dialects are experiencing a decline in usage due to the dominance of the Indonesian language and inter-regional migration.
The dominance of certain regional languages and the mobility of the population between regions are among the factors influencing this condition.
“As for the Bajau Tungkal Satu or Duano language, the number of speakers is becoming increasingly small, and the use of this language is currently mostly confined to the family circle,” he added.
The agency is undertaking several efforts, including the enrichment of Indonesian vocabulary through regional languages, the development of regional language dictionaries, and the mapping of languages and literature to prevent further decline in the use of regional languages.
This year’s language mapping is being conducted in Rambutan Masam Village, Tembesi District, Batanghari Regency, and Muaro Cuban Village, Batang Asai District, Sarolangun Regency, while literary mapping is being carried out in the Kerinci, Tebo, and Bungo Regencies.