Local Language as a Means (original) (raw)

2013, Jurnal Ilmiah Dinamika Bahasa Dan Budaya

Indonesia is a large nation in terms of geography, population, ethnics, cultures, and vernaculars. Indonesian 1945 constitution guarantees that the ethnics, cultures, vernaculars in Indonesia will be taken care of by the government. But in reality, speakers of many vernaculars in Indonesia are getting less and less. Sneddon states that this is caused by lingua franca and language shift (2003: 203). Vernaculars will be preserved if they are respected, used, and inherited to the following generation. And maintaining them will lead the unity in diversity. Friberg (2011) states that languages that can be maintained are the ones written and can be read. We should not only use our national language, but also our vernaculars in order to maintain our regional languages, our native local identity. And as people of multilingual community, it is better if we are multilingual. For example: Indians are used to speaking five up to six languages, based on the languages spoken by people around them. It should be borne in mind that vernaculars reflect local cultures, local values, local identity. The exposure to regional languages will make people familiar with the languages. And as a result, the people will be familiar with their own cultural values and other people's cultural values. Komorowska (2010) claims that understanding others' languages will promote intercultural competence, understanding and communication between citizens. And this will lead to peace process, to deeper knowledge of other communities and their cultures, and in consequence to promote tolerance.