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The Connection Between Language and Culture
There are several views of the relationship between language and culture as expressed in
an lingua franca. In this section we will discuss about the role of a lingua franca, namely the
Ternate language and Ternate Malay which concern not only the issue of culture but also
their influence on culture and the local government system.

Language and Culture: The notion of linkage
There are several perspectives that see the relationship between language and culture,
among others, the perspective that is put forward by cultural experts in the country,
Koentjaraningrat (1985) and Indonesian ethnolinguistic expert, Masinambow (1985). In
addition, there are many researchers from outside Indonesia such as Kramsch16 and others.
Koentjaraningrat (1985: 202-204) assumes that language is one of the elements of
culture. Thus, the characteristics in the language will also be found in other aspects of the
culture. Meanwhile, according to Masinambow, the relationship between language and
culture can be coordinative or subordinative (Masinambow, 1985: 173). This means that
language can be used to see the culture or culture can be used to highlight language. For
Masinambow, characteristics that are found in the language will also be found in other
elements in the culture. Conversely, if the language is considered essential, then the
language becomes the determining pattern of culture.
The relationship between language and culture mentioned above brings out a kind of
thinking related to language functions in culture as proposed by Kramsch (1998: 3). (1)
Language can express and create experiences that exist in a cultural reality. This culture
experience is stored in the system of human cognition and through speech; it will be
expressed as a fact, ideas and events. (2) Language embodies cultural reality through the
speaker’s tone, accent, gestures and facial expressions. (3) Language is a system of signs
that reflects not only cultural values but also symbols of reality.

Ternate and Ternate Malay: Lingua Francas in North Maluku
Ternate and Ternate Malay were widely used lingua francas, a common means of
communication between speakers of other languages. The Ternate language belongs
to the Austronesian language family and is spoken as a lingua franca in the kingdom of
Ternate (which had not embraced Islam) while the Ternate Malay language belongs to the
Austronesian language family and is used as an lingua franca especially in the Sultanate of
Ternate with Islam as its official religion.

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