THE DIVERSITY OF REGIONAL LANGUAGES AS A SOURCE OF WEALTH AND NATIONAL IDENTITY IN INDONESIA

Abstract

Indonesia is a country rich in a diverse array of regional languages, which make a significant 
contribution to its cultural diversity and national identity. Regional languages serve not only 
as a means of communication within local communities, but also as a way of preserving 
cultural values, traditions and local wisdom passed down from generation to generation. This 
study aims to explore the role of regional languages as part of the country’s cultural wealth 
and national identity, as well as to analyse the challenges faced in their preservation amidst 
globalisation. The method employed is a literature review using a descriptive qualitative 
approach through the analysis of various relevant sources. The findings indicate that regional 
languages play a vital role in strengthening national identity and enriching the Indonesian 
language. However, technological advances, the dominance of the national and foreign 
languages, the limited use of regional languages within families, and declining interest 
amongst the younger generation present major challenges to their preservation. Consequently, 
sustained efforts are required through education, digitisation, government support and 
community participation to preserve regional languages as the nation’s cultural heritage.