Regional language is the identity of a region that distinguishes it from other regions, contains cultural values, history and also the uniqueness of the region. Indonesia has 718 regional languages spread throughout Indonesia based on a study from the Ministry of Education and Culture from 1991 to 2019 (dataindonesia.id).
Of the 718 regional languages in Indonesia, many have a critical status due to the loss of the main speakers who no longer use them and pass them on to the next generation. The Province of Bali has two dialects of regional languages used by the Balinese people, namely the Bali Aga or Bali Mula dialect which is spoken in the highlands of the island of Bali and Bali Mainland which is spoken in the lowland areas of the island of Bali which was influenced by Majapahit rule.
Bali is a tourism area that has local solid cultural wisdom, the Balinese language is part of it and maintaining the existence of the Balinese language among the community, especially the next generation of Bali, is important for supporters of Bali tourism. Learning regional languages needs to be done from an early age, especially in urban areas that are vulnerable to multicultural conditions. The central government has made various efforts to revitalize regional languages by encouraging the younger generation to learn language and literature. The inheritance of this regional language has been pursued in a structured and contextual manner, both school- and family- and community-based.
The Language Development and Fostering Agency, Ministry of Education and Culture in developing the Regional Language Revitalization program under the Freedom to Learn policy encourages young people to learn language and literature and encourages local speakers to pass on their mother tongue to the next generation. The development of regional languages certainly needs to be harmonized with current technological advances. One form of developing Balinese regional languages in the field of technology is the launch of a keyboard using Balinese script by the Governor of Bali, Wayan Koster, in September 2021. The Province of Bali has a Balinese language program. and February 2023 is the Bali Language Month V with the theme Segara Kerthi: Campuh Urip Sarwa Prani. This program aims to provide space for preserving Balinese customs, especially in developing Balinese script, literature and language.
In the digitalization era, the use of various languages is increasingly expanding across national borders. Today, some Balinese people have become bilingual and even multilingual society. Garvin and Mathiot stated that there are three characteristics of language attitudes, namely language loyalty, language pride and awareness of language norms. Through these three characteristics, it can be seen whether a person is still consistent in using the local language. To foster loyalty and pride in the Balinese regional language in the Post Gen Z and Generation Z Generations, a booster is needed to be able to be proud and finally loyal to using the Balinese language amid a multilingual condition.
Access to Balinese language learning opportunities can be expanded by having a Balinese language learning site that is packaged modernly. The development of Balinese language learning sites in the future is important amid today’s digitalization.
No longer stuck in formal education, Balinese language socialization can be done anywhere with advances in technology. The development of an online Balinese language dictionary, both in the form of a website and an application that can be downloaded on a smartphone, can be an effective means of inviting the younger generation of Balinese to learn Balinese more easily. In addition, amidst the proliferation of comedy-themed YouTube channels, learning Balinese in a modern way can be packaged in a comedy-drama atmosphere that makes the current generation learning Balinese more enjoyable. Happy Fifth Balinese Language Month.
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