In brief
The Cia-Cia tribe, residing on Buton Island in Indonesia, is using the Korean script Hangul to teach their native language that has historically been passed down orally. With this innovative approach, educators aim to safeguard a cultural legacy threatened by the absence of a formal writing system.
In the lively classrooms of Hendea Elementary School in Baubau, Indonesia, young students enthusiastically engage in lessons using the Hangul script—a writing system from Korea—to invent a formal method for their native tongue, Cia-Cia. This language, historically transmitted orally, has around 93,000 speakers within the Cia-Cia community on Buton Island, which is part of Indonesia's rich tapestry of over 700 native languages."Say 'ph.' Make sure the paper moves as you speak," instructs Deuk-young Jung, a dedicated teacher who's been advocating for this unique educational initiative for over a decade. As their nameplates adorned with Korean characters flutter on their desks, students trace the distinct shapes and patterns of Hangul in their notebooks, connecting with a lineage of communication that lacks traditional script.With Indonesia being a diverse linguistic region, the Cia-Cia language's very survival is at stake due to the absence of a writing system. Amirul Tamim, the former mayor of Baubau and a vocal champion of preserving Cia-Cia, underscores the importance of language as a community’s wealth and civilization. "A language without its own alphabet loses its authenticity," he articulates, emphasizing the need to safeguard this cultural treasure for future generations.The integration of Hangul into teaching the Cia-Cia language gives the community hope that their rich linguistic heritage will endure and flourish, despite the challenges posed by modernization. This innovative blend of cultures not only preserves a language but also strengthens the bridge between distinct traditions, showcasing the resilience of the Cia-Cia tribe.
