Young reluctant to learn Balinese language

Young reluctant to learn Balinese language

Sugi B. Lanus, Contributor, Denpasar

Dressed in an elaborate traditional costume, lecturer Windhu
Sancaya rushes from Udayana University's campus to Denpasar's
state-owned TVRI television studio to host a special news program
broadcast every afternoon in the Balinese language.

The program, called Gatra Bali, was aired for the first time
last August when the station celebrated its 39th anniversary.

Windhu is very happy to moonlight as a news presenter.

"I am very concerned that the Balinese language is currently
facing the danger of extinction because the society that uses it
has begun to lose its interest in preserving the language," the
lecturer said.

The Balinese language, he said, should be widely exposed to
the public, especially young people who preferred to speak
Indonesian, English and other languages.

"I really hope that the program will encourage locals to
actively use it in their daily lives," Windhu said.

Every afternoon starting at 5.15 p.m. local time (4.15 p.m.
Jakarta Time), Gatra Bali presents domestic and international
news.

Local TV viewers enthusiastically welcomed the program, the
first of its kind created by Denpasar's TVRI station since being
established on the island.

"I have gained benefits from the program, which provides both
actual news and a rare chance to learn the Balinese language,"
said a viewer.

Yati Iswara, assistant manager for news, information and
sports, commented that the program was established to address
TVRI's concern over the public's anxiety.

"Many scholars have been so worried that the native language
will soon die if the community refuses to preserve it," she said.

"Working in a TV station means I am used to being posted in
several areas nationwide. But my own children are not able to
speak Balinese," she said.

A scholar addressing a recent seminar blamed the provincial
administration for paying little attention to the development of
the language.

A recent survey carried out by a team of lecturers and
students at Udayana University's School of Letters revealed a
disturbing fact. The survey found that most Balinese teenagers
and children could hardly speak their mother tongue at all. It
also disclosed that their first language was Indonesian instead
of Balinese.

I Wayan Sudiarsa, a father, said he feared teaching Balinese
to his children at an early age would mean they would be unable
to attend schools where lessons were given in Bahasa Indonesia.

Children, he said, would automatically become more eloquent
speaking in Bahasa Indonesia than in their own local languages.

"When we visit our relatives in the village, their
grandparents, uncles and neighbors have to speak Indonesian to my
children," he said.

Sudiarsa is not alone. Most modern parents in Bali are facing
similar problems. Many of them complain that their children are
not familiar with the Balinese language.

The rapid growth of international and popular private schools
in Bali has encouraged more and more youths to go global. A large
number of popular schools use Indonesian and English as the
languages of instruction. Even kindergartens are using English in
an effort to prepare children for an increasingly competitive
world.

There has been very little interest among young Balinese in
seriously learning their own language and culture since Bali
started to become a popular tourist destination three decades
ago.

As an example, the number of students enrolled at the Balinese
Language and Literature Department of Udayana University has
decreased sharply over the last few years.

In the 2001-2002 academic year, only four students were
admitted to the school. On the other hand, the university's
English Department has always been filled with dozens of
enthusiastic students.

The English Department has even extended its afternoon and
evening programs to accommodate more students.

It clearly reflects the desire of young Balinese to learn
English and other foreign languages as a ticket to a successful
professional career.

"Learning foreign languages is important but it's better if
students can also speak their own language," complained a
lecturer.

A number of prominent experts in Balinese literature including
Ketut Suwidja, Nyoman Sanggra, Gede Darna, Tusty Eddy and
Jelantik Santa have proposed a new mechanism to encourage more
students to enroll with the department.

They called on the administration as well as the university to
provide incentives, such as scholarships, to those interested in
joining the department.

Efforts to preserve and promote Balinese language have also
been made by several non-governmental and cultural organizations
such as Burat Wangi, Sanggar Kukuruyuk, Kelompok Bali Utara and
the Paramasastra Bali Foundation.

The Burat Wangi Club - consisting of high school teachers and
culture lovers in Karang Asem, East Bali - has published a high
quality journal on Balinese literature.

Despite their enthusiasm, the club is facing serious financial
problems. Money has always been an obstacle. There is nothing
more important than lending a hand to any agency that promotes
the Balinese language. Otherwise, it is more likely that the
language will be forgotten by its own society.