Hundreds of Languages are Threatened with Extinction; DPD RI Urges Acceleration of Regional Language Bill Discussions

06 April 2026 oleh admin

dpd.go.id JAKARTA – Committee III of the DPD RI is pushing for the acceleration of the Regional Language Bill (RUU Bahasa Daerah) discussions in response to the growing threat of regional language extinction in Indonesia. With hundreds of languages in conditions ranging from vulnerable to critical, the DPD RI believes stronger and more targeted legal foundations and policies are necessary to protect the nation's linguistic wealth. Filep Wamafma, Chairperson of Committee III of the DPD RI, emphasized that regional languages are not merely tools of communication, but are cultural identities and a means of passing down local values and knowledge. In this context, the state must step in through robust regulation to ensure that the continuity of regional languages is not further eroded by changing times. "Regional languages are an essential part of our national cultural richness and the social identity of communities across various regions of Indonesia," said Filep Wamafma during a Working Meeting between Committee III of the DPD RI and the Ministry of Culture at the DPD RI building, Monday (April 6, 2026). He also warned that the current state of regional languages in Indonesia faces serious challenges, ranging from weakening intergenerational transmission to the dominance of national and foreign languages in daily life. Without proper policy intervention, Indonesia risks losing a significant portion of its linguistic heritage in the coming decades. "If this condition is not immediately addressed through comprehensive and sustainable policies, Indonesia has the potential to lose most of its linguistic wealth within the next few decades," he stated. During the working meeting, Minister of Culture Fadli Zon affirmed that the protection of regional languages is a vital part of the grand strategy for advancing national culture. He emphasized that regional languages must be viewed as the foundation of cultural resilience and national identity, thus requiring a more progressive approach through specific regulations. "Regional languages are the foundation of cultural resilience and national identity," said Fadli Zon, who was accompanied by Deputy Minister of Culture Giring Ganesha Djumaryo and officials from the Ministry of Culture. Furthermore, the government is encouraging a shift in the approach to regional language preservation, moving from mere documentation to active revitalization involving daily usage, intergenerational transmission, and adaptation in the digital era. "Regional languages are a living culture, not artifacts," he asserted. During the meeting, members of Committee III also highlighted the shortage of teaching staff at both the school and university levels as a hurdle in preserving regional languages. Jasmin U Dillo, a DPD RI member from Gorontalo, emphasized that having regional language departments and educators in universities is a crucial instrument for strengthening regional languages. Echoing this sentiment, Agita Nurfianti, a DPD RI member from West Java, stressed that attention must be paid to regional language teachers at the elementary school level in her region. The presence of such educators would establish regional language education from an early age as a preservation effort. "Even though the use of regional language in West Java is still common, there is a decline among Gen-Z and younger generations; they use English more frequently in their daily lives," she added. Meanwhile, Arianto Kogoya, a DPD RI member from Highland Papua, asserted that the Regional Language Bill is a vital instrument in ensuring protection for all regional languages in Indonesia, while simultaneously strengthening the role of local governments in their preservation. "This Bill is very important. We are fighting to ensure that under the Prabowo administration, regional languages are protected in accordance with the Asta Cita (eight priorities)," said Arianto Kogoya.