Preserving Heritage: Indigenous Indonesians Embrace Korean Script to Safeguard Dialect

Preserving Heritage: Indigenous Indonesians Embrace Korean Script to Safeguard Dialect

In the heart of Baubau, a village nestled in the eastern reaches of Indonesia, the next generation diligently traces the elegant curves and lines of Hangul script across whiteboards. Yet, this isn't a Korean language class; it's a unique initiative to safeguard the indigenous Cia-Cia tongue. The Cia-Cia people, numbering around 80,000 in southeast Sulawesi province, have long grappled with the absence of a written form for their language, a syllable-based system defying easy translation into the Latin alphabet.

Enter Hangul, the script developed in 15th-century Korea. Known for its ingenious syllable-based structure, Hangul has become an unexpected ally in the quest to preserve the linguistic heritage of the Cia-Cia community. While not an exact match, the Korean characters bear striking similarities to certain sounds in the Cia-Cia tongue, providing a bridge where the Latin alphabet falls short.

Abidin, a 48-year-old teacher known by a single name, shared insights into this linguistic fusion. "In Latin words, for instance, there's no agreed way to pronounce the sounds 'pha' or 'ta'. But after I learned Korean, it turns out there are Korean characters for the sounds. They are not exactly the same, but they're similar," he explained to AFP.

Indonesia, a sprawling archipelago with over 700 languages, stands as one of the world's most linguistically diverse nations. While Bahasa Indonesia, with its Latin-based script, serves as the official language, the Cia-Cia people faced a unique challenge – their language lacked a written form until 2009. This transformative year marked the introduction of Hangul, following a cultural exchange between Baubau and Korean scholars.

South Korean linguists, recognizing Hangul's sound-centric structure, championed its adoption. The city responded by dispatching teachers and students to South Korea, where they immersed themselves in learning Hangul. The objective was clear: establish a standardized method for writing and teaching the Cia-Cia language.

In ancient times, the Cia-Cia language existed in fleeting forms on paper and wood, conveyed through non-standard symbols that faded into obscurity. Today, however, Hangul proudly displays Cia-Cia names across schools, streets, and government institutions in Baubau. While the language is predominantly spoken, the Hangul symbols have become a vital tool in imparting the Cia-Cia tongue to students, bridging the gap between tradition and modernity in the vibrant tapestry of Indonesia's linguistic landscape.

In conclusion, the fusion of Hangul script with the indigenous Cia-Cia tongue in Baubau reflects a remarkable effort to overcome the challenges of preserving a language with no written tradition. The unconventional choice of Korean characters, with their resonances with certain sounds in the Cia-Cia language, has breathed new life into a linguistic heritage on the brink of fading away.

As Cia-Cia names now grace the city's landmarks in Hangul, there's a tangible testament to the success of this cross-cultural collaboration. The initiative not only revived a once-lost language but also underscored the diverse ways communities strive to safeguard their cultural identities in the face of globalization.

The journey from the absence of a written form to the incorporation of Hangul as a pedagogical tool exemplifies the resilience of indigenous cultures and the creative approaches necessary to ensure their survival. Baubau's commitment to this linguistic revitalization serves as an inspiring model for communities grappling with similar challenges worldwide, showcasing the power of cultural exchange and innovation in the pursuit of heritage preservation.