H

undreds of local languages in the country are on the brink of extinction as fewer people speak the languages.

As the country with the second-largest number of local languages in the world, Indonesia has around 700 local languages, 178 of which are waning away amid a declining number of speakers, wars, natural disasters and marriages with non-natives.

The Culture and Education Ministry’s language development board recorded that 15 local languages, located mostly in Maluku, vanished recently due to these causes.

The languages that are still struggling are mostly located in Kalimantan, Maluku, Papua, Halmahera, Sulawesi, Flores, Bima and Sumbawa.

The language board head, Dadang Sunendar, cited as an example how the Taijo language, which is used by people living in the eastern coast of Central Sulawesi and which is only used by fewer than 12,000 people and can be categorized as almost extinct.

“The language does not have an alphabet system and is not taught in schools, and coexists with other local languages like Pendau, Kaili, Bugis, Balinese and Javanese. Indonesian is the lingua franca in the region,” said Dadang during the first national congress on local languages held in Bandung, West Java.

The 2009 law on national flag, language, symbols and anthem mandates regional administrations to preserve local languages in their regions.

In an effort to preserve the languages, the Rancage Cultural Foundation has honored advocates and literati of the Sundanese, Javanese, Balinese and Batak languages.

Rancage Cultural Foundation board of trustees head Ajip Rosidi said the 2016 Rancage award for Sundanese literature was given to the short story book Nadran, written by Ahmad Bakri and published by Qiblah Buku Utama Bandung, while the award for services in Sundanese literature was given to Adang S, a retired soldier who is active in writing, as well as founder of various communities, including the Harupat and Caraka communities.

Ahmad Bakri’s work outshined 24 other Sundanese literature books received by the committee.

The award for Javanese literature was given to Alun Samodra Rasa, a book written by Ardini Pangastuti Surya and published by Surya Samudra. Ajip said there were 18 Javanese literature books published during 2015.

Four of the 18 titles were nominated, namely the Ing Satengahing Alas Brongkos novel written by Tiwiek SA, Latitude Gumiwang by JFX Hoery, Warung Poci by Maufur and Alun Samudra.

For services to Javanese literature, the award was given to Sri Setyowati, alias Trinil, lecturer at the Surabaya State University, who popularized the Javanese language with East Javanese dialect. “She wished to show that Javanese culture is not only focused in the keraton [palace],”said Ajid.