Illustration of Enggros Village in Jayapura – steemit.com
Jayapura, Jubi – Some local or native languages in Jayapura Municipality threaten to be extinct if not immediately protected.
“There are many native Papuan languages in Tanah Tabi (Jayapura Municipality), namely Sentani, Nafri, Tobati Enggros, Kayu Pulo and Skouw languages. In general, except for Sentani language, the sustainability of these languages is quite apprehensive,” said Suharyanto, a senior researcher from the Indonesian Language Center of Papua and West Papua on Friday (05/10/2018) in Jayapura City.
Moreover, he said the Indonesian Language Center for Papua and West Papua Area had research on Nafri and Tobati Enggross languages in Jayapura Municipality in 2003 and 2004.
“In the case of Nafri language, if there is no serious action taken by speakers and the state, it is estimated that in the next three generations this language would become extinct. It is similar for Tobati Enggros and Kayu Pulo languages,” he said.
Meanwhile, regarding Kayu Pulo language, although it has not been studied yet, but based on the proximity of the place and the number of speakers, it can be concluded also be threatened with extinction.
The endangered of these three regional languages, he continued, is related to the decline in the number of speakers, its locations, the use of language and people’s assimilation.
Furthermore, Suharyanto said a solution to protect the native languages in Tanah Tabi is to include it in some learning materials in schools. “The municipal government has initiated an effort to protect the local languages by preparing the local content teaching materials or books to be taught at the elementary schools,” he said. (*)
Source: Antara
Editor: Pipit Maizier
