MALAY LANGUAGE MAINTENANCE AMONG THE SPEAKERS IN DESA BARU BATANG KUIS.

(1)

MALAY LANGUAGE MAINTENANCE AMONG THE SPEAKERS

IN DESA BARU BATANG KUIS

A Thesis

Submitted to the English Applied Linguistics Study Program in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of

Magister Humaniora

By

RISKI AMRINA SARI Registration Number: 8136111051

ENGLISH APPLIED LINGUISTICS STUDY PROGRAM POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

i

ABSTRACT

Sari, Riski Amrina. Registration Number 8136111051. Malay Language Maintenance Among The Speakers in Desa Baru Batang Kuis. Thesis. English Applied Linguistics Study Program, Post Graduate School, State University of Medan (UNIMED). 2015

(6)

ii ABSTRAK

Sari, Riski Amrina. Nomor Pendaftaran 8136111051. Pemertahanan Bahasa Melayu Antara Penutur di Desa Baru Batang Kuis. Tesis. Jurusan Linguistik Terapan Bahasa Inggris, Program Pasca Sarjana, Universitas Negeri Medan (UNIMED). 2015.

(7)

iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim,

The writer would like to express her deep devotion and thanks to the

almighty Allah SWT, for everything has given to the writer to finishing this

thesis. Shalawat and Salam to Prophet Muhammad SAW as the messenger, has

brought the humankind from the bad characters to the good ones.

The writer would like to express her great gratitude to Prof. Sumarsih,

M.Pd. her first adviser for the valuable time spent in giving the guidance,

comments and criticism to manuscript of the thesis. She also would like to thank

Dr. I Wayan Dirgayasa Tangkas, M.Hum. her second adviser who patiently spent

valuable time for advising, guiding and giving great help in the clarification of

important ideas to complete this thesis.

At this opportunity she also would like to thank all staff of the English

Applied Linguistic Program Prof. Busmin Gurning M.Pd the head of English

Applied Linguistics for his idea given to the writer and Mr. Farid for aboundantly

helpful and invaluable information on administrative requirements for the degree

of Magister Humaniora (M.Hum)

The writer’s great thanks also go to her examiners, Prof. Dr. Busmin

(8)

iv

Finally, her special gratitude is also dedicated to her beloved father Amril

Nazib and mother Darmisah for supporting her in finishing her thesis. Her

brothers and sisters Yanuar Amri, Rahmat Setiawan, Usnul Fahreza, Novita Sari,

S.Pd. Aifa Namira, S.Pd SD. Halimah Lubis, S.Pd.I. And Serda Gendra Tri

Wibowo for supporting.

Medan, Mei 2015

(9)

v

CHAPTER V. CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

(12)

viii

5.2 Suggestions ... 70

REFERENCES ... 72

(13)

ix

LIST OF TABLES

Pages

Table 1 ... 37

Table 2 ... 39

Table 3 ... 41

Table 4 ... 43

Table 5 ... 45

Table 6 ... 48

Table 7 ... 52

Table 8 ... 54

Table 9 ... 59

Table 10 ... 57

Table 11 ... 58

Table 12 ... 60

(14)

LIST OF PICTURES

(15)

LIST OF APPENDICES

Pages Appendix 1 Questionnaire ... 76 Appendix 2 Questionnaire result of factors affecting Malay language

(16)

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

1.1.The Background of the Study

Language is needed for every human being to communicate to other

people. Language is the basis of all communication. Without language, no culture

in the society would be developed because people will lack a means which they

can express their ideas to one another. Jandt (2003:40) states that language is a

way of marking cultural identity.

Language can not be separated from human life because it plays an

important role in the process of social interaction. Through language, there

happens cooperation and interaction between people. Talk to our friends, families

and associates by using a language as a medium of communication. All people in

the society communicate and express their feeling by using a language.

Indonesia is multilingual country which consists of different ethnic groups.

Every ethnic has different vernacular language. Vernacular languages in Indonesia

as mother tongue face a challenge against the existence of Indonesia language and

foreign language. Based on the data of UNESCO in the year of 2001, there are

6.900 languages in the world. 2.500 of them are extincting. UNESCO says that

Indonesia is a country which has multi varieties of languages, but it is also facing

a very big danger of language shift. Based on the data of UNESCO, almost 200

languages do not exist any longer after three generations, because they lost their

speakers. 900 languages in the world are in danger of extinction nowadays.

Furthermore, based on the record of UNESCO, Indonesia takes the third position

(17)

danger of extinction because their speakers are less than 500 people (UNESCO,

2001). As Yamamoto (2009) said that Language are disappearing because people

stop using their heritage language and instead start using another, often the

language of political, economic, military, and religious dominance.

Nowadays, language shift potentially happen in vernaculars in Indonesia.

Gunarwan (2004) found that Lampung language is shifted because of Indonesian

language pressure. Siregar (1998) also found that language shift happen in the

young generation bilingual society in Medan. The data show that the language

shift happens in Indonesia continually.

Weinreich (1968) defines that language shift is often used to refer to

change at a community level and the terms language loss or non-acquisition of

language are used in reference to an individual’s declining or use of a group’s

original language with concurrent increased or dominant use of another more

widely used language. If the language shift cannot be stopped, the minority

language will lose. Language is one of ethnic identity symbol. It means that

Indonesia will lose one of its ethnic identities. In keeping the existence of ethnic

identity needs language maintenance.

Pauwels (2005) states that language maintenance is generally applied to

individuals or community of speakers continuing to use their language in a

situation of language contact, where there is competition from one or more

languages to be the sole language used in particular domains or situations. It

means that maintaining the language is important. It is supported by Holmes

(2001) said that where the language is considered as an important symbol of

(18)

Schiffman (1995) warned that if language is not maintained, there can be several

results. One is language death, speakers become bilingual, younger speakers

become dominant in another language, and the language is said to die.

As found in Desa Baru Batang Kuis that Malay people still maintain

Malay language in communication. The researcher was found the maintenance of

Malay language in Desa Baru Batang Kuis in the following conversation between

Malay people.

A : Alang, nak kmane ko?

Brother, where will you go?

B : Nak ke Rumah Sakit, ngantarkan sabun ne

To the hospital, I want to give this soap

A : Tuk ape sabun tu?

What for that soap?

B : Istriku dah melahirkan semalam

My wife has given birth yesterday

A : titip salam tuk istri ko ya

Convey my regards for your wife

B : iye..iye…nak ke Rumah Sakit dulu ya

Ok…I will go to the hospoital

Based on the conversation above, showed that they use Malay language

when they communicate with their friend. The transmission of Malay language in

young generation is still continue, eventhough their children use Bahasa Indonesia

(19)

A : Atok, aku nak beli ne Atok

Grandfather, I want to buy this

B : yang mana ko mau, berapa?

Which one do you want, how much?

A : satu aja Atok

Just one grandfather

A : nak kemane ko siap ne?

Where will you go after this?

B : nak pulang la Atok

I want to go home grandfather

A : jangan lupe tutup tingkep tu ye!

Don’t forget to close the window!

B : iye lah Tok

Ok grandfather

Based on the data above, Malay people in Desa Baru Batang Kuis

had maintained their language. They use Malay language when they communicate

with other Malay people. Moreover, when adult communicate with their children.

They still use Malay language. The researcher interviewed them to find the reason

why they still use Malay language. They said that, they proud with Malay

language and they close each other if they use Malay language. By using Malay

language they can show their identity as Malay people. As Carson (2001) said that

the maintenance of a heritage language is vital for the self-identity and esteem of

(20)

The phenomena of language maintenance make the researcher interested to

found out the factors affecting language maintenance in Desa Baru Batang Kuis.

How they maintain their language and their reasons why they still use or maintain

Malay language.

The previous research about maintenance of addressing terms has been

conducted by Ulfa (2013) with the title “The Maintenance of Addressing terms of

Acehnese Young Generation in Intermarriage Family”. The subjects were 20

children of intermarriage family which consist 0f 10 children whose parents are

Acehnese mother and Non-Acehnese father. The result found that there are

fourteen respondents (70%) maintaining the addressing terms and there are six

respondents (30%) shift the addressing terms. There are four factors that influence

young generation in maintaining the addressing terms, namely: parents’ role,

attitude, demography and environment. Family tradition, ethnic identity and

politeness are the reason of young generation maintenance the addressing terms.

In addition, Sitinjak (2013) with the research about language maintenance

in inter-ethnic couples. The subjects of this study are people who married with

different ethnic, specifically Javanese-Batak and Batak-Javanese. The subjects of

this study were 8 couples, four couples for Javanese (husband) – Batak (wife) and

four couples for Batak (husband)- Javanese (wife). This study focused on the

factor affect language maintenance in inter-ethnic couples and the reason

maintaining the language. The conclusion which found by the researcher that

attitude and identity is the dominant factor in language maintenance in inter-ethnic

(21)

participating in social fields, joining ethnic church services, and visiting

homeland.

The previous research observed about the maintenance of addressing terms

of Acehnese young generation in intermarriage family and maintenance of

language in inter-ethnic couples. Those researchers focus in intermarriage family.

This research is focused on the language maintenance in community. The research

will have the different finding from the previous research. Because of this

research about language maintenance of Malay language in Desa Baru Batang

Kuis is not conducted yet. The researcher needs to know the language

maintenance in community; the factors affecting language maintenance, how the

way they maintain and the reasons maintain Malay language. For the reason, the

research about Malay language maintenance in Desa Baru Batang Kuis is needed

to do.

1.2.The Problems of the Study

Previous studies revealed that the success of maintaining a heritage language

depend on many factors, such as family relationships, intramarriage, parental

attitudes and peer influence. However, in the present study will be conducted to

investigate how is the Malay in Desa Baru Batang Kuis maintain their language.

Specifically, the study addresses maintenance the following research questions.

1. What factors do affect the maintenance of Malay Language in Desa Baru

Batang Kuis ?

2. How do the Malay people maintain their language?

(22)

1.3.The Objectives of the Study

The objectives of this study are to answer the research question. To be more

specific of the objectives of the study are:

1. To find out the factors affecting Malay language maintenance in Desa

Baru Batang Kuis.

2. To know how Malay people maintain the Malay language in Desa Baru

Batang Kuis.

3. To find out the reasons why Malay people in Desa Baru Batang Kuis

maintain their language.

1.4. The Scope of the Study

There are many vernacular languages in Medan but this study only focuses

on Malay language. Malay language maintenance is investigated through the

language use of Malay speakers in Desa Baru Batang Kuis.

1.5.The Significance of the Study

Findings of the study are expected to be relevant and useful theoretically and

practically. Theoretically, the results of this study are useful for;

1. The enrichment of theories of language planning especially on language

maintenance.

2. Improving the knowledge about the vernacular language and how to

maintain.

(23)

1. As reference for the university students who are interested in studying

language maintenance

2. For the next researchers who are interested in conducting any further

(24)

CHAPTER V

CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

5.1. Conclusions

This thesis is about the Malay language maintenance among the speakers in Desa Baru Batang Kuis. It was aimed to find out the factors support Malay language maintenance in Desa Baru Batang Kuis. Base on the analysis, the conclusions are stated in the following;

1. Factors affecting Malay language maintenance in Desa Baru Batang Kuis are; living together and see each other frequently, ethno linguistic vitality, use of the language in family domain (intramarriage ang intermarriage), use of the language in neighborhood domain, use of the language in religion domain and practice traditional ceremony. Living together and see each other frequently and ethno linguistic vitality have big role in Malay language maintenance. It means that living together and see each other, they able to practice and speak the language in their environment and their daily communication. Using the language in their daily communication affect them to maintain their language and increased their proud of Malay people.

(25)

language are using vernacular language in social meeting and establish traditional organizations. These strategies conducted by Malay people in Desa Baru Batang Kuis to maintain their language

3. Proud being Malay people and speak Malay language are reasons of the Malay people in maintaining Malay language. Furthermore, by using Malay language shows their identity as Malay people. Malay language is the element of national culture and also a source of vocabulary for Indonesia language are other reasons why they maintain Malay language.

5.2. Suggestions

In relation to the conclusions, there are several suggestions that are needed to be shared to some elements;

1. It is suggested to Malay parents to use Malay language in their daily communication. The habitually in using Malay language affects their children acquisition. Certainly, the children will learn the language from their parents. They acquire Malay language and the children can practice it with their parents and with other Malay people in their daily communication.

(26)

articles on Malay culture. And this is actually the responsible of the elder man of Malay people, to book information about Malay, to make it easier for the next researcher to do some research about Malay.

3. To maintain a certain culture is through introducing the culture especially to the teenagers who affected by some foreign culture. So that it is suggested to the Malay organization, not to leave the Malay tradition and do some gatherings so that the language will be keep used.

4. The next research is suggested to elaborate more about factors affecting language maintenance, strategies and reasons of maintaining language. 5. To the Malay people, to be aware of this phenomenon and keep using the

(27)

REFERENCES

Abdullah, Nadzimah Ain, Chan Swee Heng and Abu Rashed Md. Mostafizar Rahman. 2006. Patterns of Language Choice in the Education Domain: The Malaysian Context. Malaysia. Department of English Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication Universiti Putra Malaysia

Badan Pusat Statistik Kabuppaten Deli Serdang. 2015. Kecamatan Batang Kuis dalam Angka 2015. Batang Kuis : Kantor Kecamatan Batang Kuis.

Batibo, H. M. 2005. Language Decline and Death in Africa: Causes, Consequences and Challenges. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.

Batubara, Asni J. 2013. The Maintenance of Bahasa Mandailing in Medan-Tembung. Medan: Program Pascasarjana Universitas Negeri Medan. Bogdan, Robert C. and Biklen, Sari Knopp. 1992. Qualitative Rresearch for

Education: An Introduction to Theory and Method. Needham Heights: Allyn and Bacon.

Carson, David. 2001. Language Age Diversity and Education. New Jersey :Lawrence Erlbaum.

Clyne, M. & Kipp, S. 1999. Pluricentric Languages in an Immigrant Context. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.

Crystal, D. 2001. Language Death.Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Denzin, N.K. & Lincoln, Y.S. 1994. Handbook of qualitative research. Thousand Oaks :Sage Publication.

De Klerk, V. 2000. Language Shift in Grahamstown: A Case Study of Selected Xhosa Speakers. International Journal of Sociology of Language 146, 87– 110. Retrieved from http://researchgate.net/publication/

Fasold, R. 1984. The Sociolinguistics of Society. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.

Fearon, James and David D. Laitin. 2000. Ordinary Language and External Validity: Specifying Concepts in the Study of Ethnicity. Paper presented at the October 2000 meeting of LICEP. University of Pennsylvania.

Fishman, Joshua A. 2002. Endangered Minority Languages: Prospects for

Sociolinguistic Research. Yeshiva University New York & Standford University California, USA. International Journal on Multicultural Societies, Vol. 4. No. 2. ISSN 1564-4901.

(28)

Fishman, Joshua A. 1991. Reversing Language Shift: Theoretical and Empirical Foundation of Assistance to Threatened Languages. Multilingual Matter Ltd: Australia

Fishman, Joshua A. 1968. Readings in the Sociology of Language. The Hague: Mouton.

Fishman, J. 1966. Language maintenance and language shift as a field of inquiry. In J. Fishman (Ed.), Language loyalty in the United States. London, UK: Mouton and Co.

Gibbon, J and Ramirez, E. 2004. Maintaining a Minority Language: A Case study of hispanic Teenagers. Sydney: Multilingual Matters.

Gomaa, Yaseer A. 2011. Language Maintenance and Transmission: The Case of Egyptian Arabic in Durham, UK. International Journal of English Linguistics, 1(1). Retrieved from www.ccsenet.org/ijel.

Gunarwan, A. 2004. Kajian Serba Linguistik: untuk Anton Moeliono Pereksa Pereksa Bahasa. Jakarta: BPK Gunung Mulia

Hayden, R. 1966. Some community dynamics of language maintenance. In J. Fishman, V. Nahirny, J. Hofman and R. Hayden (Eds.), Language loyalty And the United States. The Hague: Mouton.

Hermes, M. 2007. Moving Toward the Language: Reflections on Teaching in An Indigenous-immersion School. Journal of American Indian Education,

46(3), 54-71. Retrieved from

www.jaie.asu.edu/46_3_%202007%205%20Hermes.pdf.

Holmes, J. 2001. An Introduction to Sociolinguistcs. Essex: Pearson Education

Hoffman, M.L. 1991. Emathy, Social cognition, and Moral Action.In W.M. Kurtines& J.L. Gewirts (Eds), Handbook of Moral Behavior and Development.Volume 1: Theory 275-382. Hillsdale, NJ:L. Erlbaum.

Hyltenstam, C. and Stroud, C. 1996. Language Maintenance. In Contact Linguistics, Goebl et al. (Eds), 567-578. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter.

Jagodic, Devan. 2011. Between Language Maintenance and Language Shift: the Slovenian Community in Italy Today and Tomorrow. Journal of Slovene Research Institute, 2(1), 195-213.

(29)

Kayam, Orly. 2014. The Second Generation: Heritage Language Maintenance-Native English Speakers Living in Israel-Case Study No.3. Journal of Sociological Research, 5(1), 18-23. Doi: 10.5296/jsr.v5il.5133

Krauss, Michael. 1992. The world’s language in crisis. Language 68.

Linclon, Yonna S and G. 1985.Naturalistic Iquiry. Beverly Hills: Sage Publication.

Mahsun. 2005. Metode Penelitian Bahasa. Jakarta: PT. Raja Grafindo Persada.

Miles, M. B. & Huberman, M.A. 1994. Qualitative Data Analysis: Second Edition.

Oriyama, Kaya. 2010. Heritage Language Maintenance and Japanese Identity Formation: What Role Can Schooling and Ethnic Community Play?. Heritage Language Journal, 7(2), 76-111. Retrieved from www.international.ucia.edu/languages/heritagelanguages/journal/volume7-2.asp

Pauwels, A. 2005. The Role of Mixed marriages in Language shift in the Dutch Communities. Australia: Canberra Departement of Linguistics.

Resnick, M C. 1988. Beyond the Ethnic Community: Spanish Language Roles and Maintenance in Miami. International Journal of the Sociology of

Language, 1988(69): 89-104. Retrieved from

www.degruyter.com/view/j/ijsl.1988.issue69/ijsl.1988.69.89/ijsl.1988.89.x ml

Saragih, Amrin. 2010. RevitalisasiBahasa Daerah. An Article on Pebruary 22, 2010, issued in HarianWaspada. Page C.6 Medan: HarianWaspada.

Schiffman, Harold f. 1995. Language Shift in the Tamil Communiities of Malaysia and Singapore: the Paradox of Egalitarian Language Policy. Southwest Journal of Linguistics, 14, 1-2.

Schwartz, M. 2008. Exploring the Relationship Between Family Language Policy and Heritage Language Knowledge Among Second Generation Russian-Jewish Immigrants in Israel. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 29(5). 400–418

Schwartz, M. 2010. Family Language Policy: Core Issues of an Emerging Field. Journal of External Control of FLP, 1. 171–192. doi:10.1515/9783110222654

(30)

Sitinjak, Vivi Novalia. 2013. Language Maintenance in inter-ethnic Couples. Medan : Program Pascasarjana Universitas Negeri Medan.

Sugiono. 2009. Metode Penelitian Pendidikan. Alfabeta. Bandung.

UNESCO. 2001. The Use of Vernacular Languages. Paris, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Culture Organization.

UNESCO Ad Hoc Expert Group on Endangered Languages. 2002. Language Vitality and Endangerment. An Article of intensive working symposium document in Kyoto, Japan, 22-25 November 2002. Accessed on December 21th_{2014. www.unesco.org/culture/heritage/intangible/meetings/paris/}

Ulfa, Maria. 2013. The Maintenance of Addressing Terms of Acehnese Young Generation of Intermarriage Family. Medan : Program Pascasarjana Universitas Negeri Medan.

Uswar, Yenita. 2013. Minangkabau Langauge Maintenance By The Association of Sei Jaring Community in medan. Medan : Program Pascasarjana Universitas Negeri Medan.

Wamalwa, Eric W., & Oluoch, Stephen B.J. 2013. Language Endangerment and Language Maintenance: Can Endangered Indigenous Languages of Kenya Be Electronically Preserved?, International Journal of Humanities and Social Science,3(7), 258-266. Retrieved from http://www.ijhssnet.com

Weinreich, Uriel. 1968. Language in Contact : Findings and Problems. The Haugue: Moulion.

MALAY LANGUAGE MAINTENANCE AMONG THE SPEAKERS IN DESA BARU BATANG KUIS.