The Language Barrier between Locals and Migrants

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background Culture is the characteristics of a particular group of people, defined by everything from language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts. Culture is something that a person learns from his family and surroundings, and is not ingrained in him from birth. It does not have any biological connection because even if a person is brought up in a culture different from that in which he was born, he imbibes the culture of the society where he grows up. It is also not a hidden fact that some people feel the need to follow the beliefs and traditions of their own culture, even though they might be not subscribing to certain ideologies within. Every society has a different culture, where people share a specific language, traditions, behavior, perceptions and beliefs. Culture gives them an identity which makes them unique and different from people of other cultures. When people of different cultures migrate and settle in another society, the culture of that society becomes the dominant culture and those of the immigrants from the subculture of the community. Usually, people who settle in other nations imbibe the new culture, while at the same time strive to preserve their own. Language is the human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of communication, and a language is any specific example of such a system. The scientific study of language is called linguistics. Any estimate of the precise number of languages in the world depends on a partly arbitrary distinction between languages and dialects. Human language is unique because it has the properties of productivity, recursivity, and displacement, and because it relies entirely on social convention and learning. Its complex structure therefore affords a much wider range of possible expressions and uses than any known system of animal communication. Language is a way of communication which is used by humans to express their idea and feelings. Language cannot be separated from human life. When we know a language, we can produce sounds which show a specific meaning and understand the sounds produced by others. Indonesia is a country which consists of many island, each island has a different tribe. Every region in Indonesia, has a culture with each characteristic one of them is its language. For example, if we want to talk with Sundanese or Javanese, at least we should understand their language that we are not misunderstanding in communication because there maybe pronounced the same words but different meaning. 1.2 Problem Formulation The problem of this study is “how to solve the language barrier between locals and migrants”? 1.3 Aim of study The aim of this study is to solve the language barrier between locals and migrants through mutual understanding both languages little by little. CHAPTER II THEORETICAL REVIEW 2.1 Definition of Culture Culture is the characteristics of a particular group of people, defined by everything from language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts. In his book, The Cultural Background of Personality (1945, p. 32), R. Linton defines ‘A culture is a configuration of learned behaviors and results of behavior whose component elements are shared and transmitted by the members of a particular society’ G. Hofstede and L. Damen also give their definition about culture. In his book, Communication between Cultures (1984, p. 51), G. Hofstede defines ‘Culture is the collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the members of one category of people from another’. While L. Damen, in his book, Culture Learning: The Fifth Dimension on the Language Classroom (1987, p. 367), defines ‘Culture: learned and shared human patterns or models for living; day- to-day living patterns. These patterns and models pervade all aspects of human social interaction. Culture is mankind's primary adaptive mechanism’. According to L. Kroeber and C. Kluckhohn, in their book, Culture: A critical review of concepts and definitions (1952), ‘Culture consists of patterns, explicit and implicit, of and for behavior acquired and transmitted by symbols, constituting the distinctive achievements of human groups, including their embodiments in artifacts; the essential core of culture consists of traditional (i.e. historically derived and selected) ideas and especially their attached values; culture systems may, on the one hand, be considered as products of action, and on the other as conditioning elements of further action’. Based on the theories that the culture consist in those patterns relative to behavior and the products of human action which may be inherited, passed on from generation to generation independently of the biological genes. Culture has been defined in a number of ways, but most simply, as the learned and shared behavior of a community of interacting human beings. CHAPTER III DISCUSSION Culture is a complex tool which every individual has to learn to survive in a society. It is the means through which people interact with others in the society. It acts in a subconscious way and whatever we see and perceive, seems to be normal and natural. Sometimes, other societies and people seem to be a little odd because they have a different culture from ours. We must remember that every society has a distinct culture that forms the backbone of the society. Culture does not remain stagnant, on the other hand it is evolving constantly and is in fact somewhat influenced by the other cultures and societies. Indonesia is a country which consists of many island, each island has a different tribe. Every region in Indonesia, has a culture with each characteristic as well as West Java. West Java is one of the provinces in Indonesia that the capital city is in Bandung. Historical development shows that the province of West Java is the first established in the territory of Indonesia. Besides that West Java is also the province with the largest population in Indonesia. Bekasi is a town located in the province of west Java, Indonesia. The city is located within Jabodetabek and become the fourth mega cities in Indonesia. Currently Bekasi developed into an industrial and urban residential area. Cikarang is an area that includes the government of Bekasi Regency. Currently, Cikarang city grew as an industrial city. Here, industrial activity is very prominent. Looks from the many industrial areas began to spread from the West Cikarang (Cibitung) to South Cikarang area. The majority of Cikarang residents are working class who make a living in manufacturing are scattered throughout the city, natives and immigrants. With the rapid development in the Cikarang (proven many factories established in the region) a lot of people outside the area come to this region to change fate. Migrants from Java and Padang very dominating Cikarang. All aspects of life are always there and filled by these families. Because of the number of entrants in Cikarang, there are a diversity of languages in this area and the majority of natives Cikarang speak Sundanese language. Sundanese dialects varieties, from Sundanese dialect-Banten to Middle Javanese dialect of Sundanese-Javanese began to mix. The linguists generally distinguish six different dialects. These dialects are: Western dialects spoken in Bantam and Lampung. Northern dialect region includes northern Sunda including Bogor city and some parts of north coast. Then the Southern dialect is a dialect Priangan which includes the city of Bandung and its surroundings. Meanwhile, Middle Eastern dialect is a dialect around Majalengka. Northeast dialect is a dialect around Kuningan, this dialect is also spoken in some parts of Brebes, Cilacap and borders Purwokerto, Central Java. And finally Southeast dialect is a dialect around Ciamis and Banyumas, Central Java. Sundanese language can also be classified into two parts, rough and smooth. The Sundanese in Banten as well as those in the Priangan (Garut, Tasikmalaya, Bandung, etc) have some differences, starting from the pronunciation dialect, to some differences in the words. Sundanese Banten also generally do not know the level, Sundanese still appear to have a close relationship with Sundanese Kuna. However, the majority of the people who speaks Sundanese have levels (Priangan), Sundanese Banten (Rangkasbitung, Pandeglang) were classified as rough Sundanese. But in practice, Sundanese Banten is classified as a Sundanese dialect of the West. Sundanese is a majority of the population in West Java. In recorded history, in 1851 Sundanese already the largest population in West Java. But nowadays, Due to urbanization, makes Cikarang and other industrial cities in Jabodetabek dominated by the majority of immigrants from Java. No wonder because the Javanese is Indonesia’s largest ethnic group originating from central Java, East Java, and Yogyakarta. At least 41.7% of Indonesia’s populations are ethnic Javanese. Java residents who migrate, make the Javanese language can be found in various regions. The numbers of Javanese who migrate helped bring Javanese language and culture into their overseas place. Physically it was difficult to distinguish between Sundanese and Javanese alike inhabit Java Island. The differences appears to the residents of Java Island will be evident in terms of culture including language. Sundanese and Javanese clearly have significant differences. In addition, it has a different spelling, pronunciation and meaning. Javanese more dominant with the use of vocal ‘O’ at the end of a word either in giving the name of person or the name of place, such as Suharto, Sukarno, Purwokerto, Solo, Ponorogo, etc. while Sundanese more dominant wiyh ending letter ‘A’ as Nana, Wiranata, Iskandar Dinata, Purwakarta, Majalengka, etc. But there are also some Sundanese language vocabularies which are similar to the Javanese pronunciation but have different meanings, such as: • Gedang = Sundanese “Pepaya” Gedang = Javanese “Pisang” • Atos = Sundanese “Sudah” Atos = Javanese “Keras” • Urang = Sundanese “Aku, Saya” Urang = Javanese “Udang” • Beurem = Sundanese “Merah” Berem = Javanese “Habis dipukul/digebukin” With some of the examples above, people who only understand Sundanese or Javanese language only when they communicate will cause misunderstanding. For newcomers, to avoid misunderstanding, it is better to communicate in Indonesian language the official language of Indonesia. Although the ability to speak the local language is important, but the ability to articulate thoughts in the form of communication that is acceptable in the local culture is more important, but if we have been living in an area for a long time, that sooner or later we can communicate using their local language because we are used to hearing it. CHAPTER IV CONCLUSION Culture is a complex tool which every individual has to learn to survive in a society. It is the means through which people interact with others in the society. It acts in a subconscious way and whatever we see and perceive, seems to be normal and natural. Sometimes, other societies and people seem to be a little odd because they have a different culture from ours. We must remember that every society has a distinct culture that forms the backbone of the society. Culture is something that a person learns from his family and surroundings, and is not ingrained in him from birth. It does not have any biological connection because even if a person is brought up in a culture different from that in which he was born, he imbibes the culture of the society where he grows up. The Indonesian people have a wide range of differences among other ethnic groups, religions, customs, and language among each region. The difference is not as a separator, but should be viewed as assets owned by the people of Indonesia. Although the ability to speak the local language is important, but the ability to articulate thoughts in the form of communication that is acceptable in the local culture is more important. Local language will be its own legacy for our children and grandchildren in carrying out rituals or ceremonies adapted to local customs. In practice, the local language already forgotten that cultural preservation is not able to control. 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