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.