REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, YOGYAKARTA -- Indonesia has more than 726 local languages, but only 456 languages of them are successfully mapped. Majority of them are extinct, especially in regions outside Java.
"The extinction of local languages is because no more users," Head of Language Bureau of Ministry of Education and Culture in Yogyakarta, Tirto Suwondo said on Tuesday as reported by Neni Ridarineni.
About three or four years ago, Ministry of Education and Culture has mapped areas of local languages in Indonesia. Number of users with more than one million people is only 13 languages, namely Javanese, Sundanese, Buginese, Minangnese and Balinese languages. Local languages are usually controlled by parents; while their children and grandchildren who have modern life are prefer using Indonesian language and foreign languages.
Although many people use Java language, but children do not use it at school or neighborhood. Suwondo said that Java language was only used in the household.
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