Bahasa Batak Di Tengah Arus Globalisasi: Eksplorasi Penyebab Hilangnya Kemampuan Berbahasa Batak Pada Kalangan Pemuda Batak Perkotaan: Batak Language in the Midst of Globalization: An Exploration of the Causes of the Loss of Batak Language Skills among Urban Batak Youth

Daniel Gian Axel Destrarata Pasaribu; Riris Johanna Siagian

doi:10.58983/jmurai.v7i2.170

Authors

Daniel Gian Axel Destrarata Pasaribu Sekolah Tinggi Teologi HKBP Pematangsiantar
Riris Johanna Siagian Sekolah Tinggi Teologi HKBP Pematangsiantar

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58983/jmurai.v7i2.170

Keywords:

Batak Language, Globalization, Batak Youth, Urbanization, Cultural Change, Language Proficiency.

Abstract

The Batak language is an essential component of the cultural identity of the Batak people, preserved for generations. However, in the face of increasing globalization, the ability to speak Batak among urban Batak youth has significantly declined. This study aims to explore the causes behind the loss of Batak language proficiency among young Batak people living in urban areas. The primary focus is to identify the factors contributing to the decline in Batak language use, particularly in relation to urbanization, cultural change, and the impact of globalization. Using a qualitative approach, the research investigates the views and experiences of Batak youth in major cities and connects them with ongoing social dynamics. The findings reveal that rapid urbanization and cultural shifts are major factors hindering the younger generation's ability to retain and practice the Batak language. The dominance of the Indonesian language as the national language, along with the widespread use of foreign languages in daily life, further weakens young people's ties to their native language and culture. While there are efforts to preserve the Batak language through cultural and family initiatives, the strong influence of globalization demands adjustments in language practices. Therefore, strategic efforts are needed to address this issue, including more intensive Batak language education and broader cultural preservation initiatives that actively involve the youth.

References

Simanjuntak, R. (2016). Bahasa dan identitas etnis Batak Toba di era globalisasi. Jurnal Ilmu Budaya, 4(2), 120–134.

Meutia Nauly, & Vivi Fransisca. (2015). IDENTITAS BUDAYA PADA MAHASISWA BATAK TOBA YANG KULIAH DI MEDAN. Jurnal Psikologi Ulayat, vol 2, no 1, 364–380. https://download.garuda.kemdikbud.go.id/article.php?article=958209&title=IDENTITAS+BUDAYA+PADA+MAHASISWA+BATAK+TOBA+YANG+KULIAH+DI+MEDAN&val=14729&.

Hutapea, M. (2020). Language ideology and identity among Batak youth in urban settings. Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 10(2), 345–360.

Ashmarita, Cindy, Hartini, & Marsia Sumule G. (2022). Orang Batak Mempertahankan Identitas Etnisnya.

Manurung, H. (2019). Urbanisasi dan erosi bahasa daerah: Studi kasus pada komunitas Batak di Medan. Jurnal Sosial Humaniora, 10(3), 188–202.

Simbolon, R. (2022). Peran keluarga dalam pewarisan bahasa Batak kepada generasi muda. Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa Daerah, 6(1), 90–104.

Nababan, P. W. J. (2017). Language shift and maintenance among urban Batak families in Jakarta. Jurnal Linguistik Indonesia, 35(1), 45–59.

Kasiyarno, K., & Apriyanto, S. (2025). Influence of globalisation on the shift in local language and cultural identity. Journal Corner of Education, Linguistics, and Literature, 4, 372–383. https://doi.org/10.54012/jcell.v4i3.435

Tetty Hotmauli Sihombing. (2024). Innovations and Challenges in the Preservation of the Batak Language by the Protestant Batak Christian Huria Church (HKBP) among Youth in the Context of Urbanization in Jakarta. Advances in Social Humanities Research, vol 2, no 12.

Hastuti, E., Amelia, R. F., & Oswari, T. (2023). Batak language maintenance among teenagers in Bekasi, Indonesia. International Journal of Social Science and Human Research, 6(12), 7210–7213. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/376346392_Batak_Language_Maintenance_among_Teenagers_in_Bekasi_Indonesia

Debby Ayu Ranta Br Bangun, Benedicta J. Mokalu, & Evie A.A. Suwu. (2022). Peran Keluarga Batak Karo Dalam Melestarikan Budaya Gendang Guro-Guro Aron Di Manado Sulawesi Utara. JURNAL ILMIAH SOCIETY, Vol 2, no 2.

Kementerian Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan. (2024). Pelestarian Bahasa Daerah Harus Dimulai dari Lingkungan Keluarga. https://www.kemdikbud.go.id/main/blog/2024/05/pelestarian-bahasa-daerah-harus-dimulai-dari-lingkungan-keluarga.

Pepinsky, T. (2020). Urbanization, Ethnic Diversity, and Language Shift in Indonesia. SSRN. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3529422.