Suwawa Language Maintenance among the Community in East Suwawa District, Bone Bolango Regency

Abstract

This study aims to describe the state of Suwawa language maintenance and the factors influencing it in Suwawa Timur District, Bone Bolango Regency. The Suwawa language is a regional language that plays a vital role in the cultural identity of the Suwawa community. However, the changing times, the tide of globalization, and the dominance of Indonesian have led to a decline in the use of the Suwawa language, particularly among the younger generation. This study employs a qualitative descriptive approach. Data were collected through observation, interviews, and documentation, involving community leaders, parents, youths, and students as informants. Data analysis was conducted through the stages of data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The research findings indicate that the maintenance of the Suwawa language in Suwawa Timur District is ongoing but remains in a vulnerable state. The Suwawa language is still used in family, social, educational, religious, and organizational settings, as well as in communication among specific community members—predominantly by adults and the elderly. However, usage among the younger generation is declining, as they tend to use Indonesian for daily communication. The factors influencing Suwawa language maintenance include both internal and external elements. Internal factors encompass the community's positive attitude toward the regional language, a sense of pride, speaker loyalty, and language use within the family. Meanwhile, external factors include the influence of globalization, technological advancements and social media, the dominance of Indonesian in education and social environments, and the reduced use of the Suwawa language in formal domains. Efforts to maintain the language must be pursued through intergenerational transmission, increased usage within families and education, cultural activities, and the utilization of digital media as a tool for language preservation.