Page 27 - THE MELANESIA DIASPORA FILE CETAK ISI 10022017

Is the language used by around 39% of the other total population in Indonesian islands?
In fact most of them are users of non-Austronesian languages. The users of the languages
including in this language group are mostly spread out in the Eastern part of Indonesian
islands, such as the islands of Maluku, East Nusa Tenggara and Papua. Under such a
situation, it can be understood that each island, even small islands, can also have some
languages. All are included in the Melanesian language group.
Through a more advanced transportation and easier temporary or permanent moving
out—despite of course the more usage of various kinds of modern communication starting
from school to newspaper, radio, TV and the like—it can also be understood that many
of the languages with less users are threatened by the danger of extinction. Around 52
languages, for example, just have around 100 people or less users. Around 169 languages
are still the language media for 500 users. An example is given by a newspaper. The
Yamdena island in Tanimbar islands (West Maluku Tenggara municipality) is of 3,333 square
kilometer but has two different languages. The Makatian, who live in the West coast, speak
Seluwasan language, while the Sangliat Dol village uses the Yamdena language, in fact the
distance between the two regions is just 70 kilometer and both are not constrained with
meaningful natural constraints. As news, this simple fact might also be amazing, isn’t it
weird if we remember the situation of a big city? However, each research wishes to record
a language situation in the islands in the Eastern region, even also in small islands in most
of the Indonesian region will easily start its research report with the case study like this
news. In Buton Island there are four different languages while in Sumba Island there are
seven languages and so forth. Therefore it can be understood that besides Badan Bahasa
there also some research institutions—among others is a research center within LIPI—
which has joyfully recorded and studies these almost extinct languages. Of course the
plan of the Ministry of Education and Culture to oblige the first graders to learn the local
language is an effort to extend the age of these languages, besides, of course, maintaining
the richness of the nation’s culture.
If the geographical description of Indonesian islands has been remembered, then
what will be remembered in the first place if not the big islands adjacent one another,
while the small islands often are felt to be far away and even remote. It is just the set of
what used to be called Small Sunda islands but now has been called—according to what
Muhammad Yamin suggests—Nusa Tenggara, which looks almost well arranged side by
side. When this geographical description has been made a means of the inhabitants then
what is immediately imagined is the spread of so many different languages—sometimes a

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