Through the Language and Literature Festival, Undiksha Supports the Preservation of Balinese Culture

Singaraja, FBS – The existence of the Balinese language, literature, and script is now faced with big challenges that seem difficult to overcome. These challenges come from various lines, starting from the influence of globalization and from the speaking community itself. This condition is of concern to the Department of Indonesian and Regional Languages, Literature (JBSID), Faculty of Languages ??and Arts, Ganesha Education University (Undiksha). Conservation efforts have also been carried out, one of which is through holding a Language and Literature Festival and a Lontar Nyurat Competition. This activity was opened by the Deputy Chancellor for Student Affairs, Public Relations and Alumni Undiksha, Prof. Dr. I Wayan Suastra, M.Pd, on Monday (17/10/2022).

The palm-print competition that competed for the Undiksha Chancellor’s rotating trophy was attended by dozens of participants from high schools/vocational schools throughout Bali. The participants copied Latin script that had been specially prepared by the organizing committee. In this case, the assessment is not only carried out on the character of the palm letters but also on the suitability of the Balinese characters. This requires a lot of precision and patience.

On the sidelines of this activity, the Head of the Department of Indonesian and Regional Languages, Literature, Undiksha, Dr. I Wayan Artika, S.Pd., M.Hum., delivered this competition to show the public that Undiksha, through its departments, takes part academically in its scientific responsibility for the richness of Balinese language, script, and literature. He hopes that this event can raise awareness and positive attitudes in the community towards cultural heritage. “First we have to form an attitude towards regional language, literature, and script. “If our attitude is good, positive, it will be very easy for us to preserve regional languages ??and literature,” he said.

As an academic, the head of the department who is actively involved in the world of literacy sees that Balinese language, literature, and script are still faced with problems. The Balinese ethnic community which is expected to become a government has developed into a bilingual and even multilingual society. This reality means that when communicating you don’t have to use Balinese. “That is a macro Balinese language problem. Because Balinese people already have a choice of languages, not only Balinese but also Indonesian and foreign languages. So they don’t have to speak Balinese, but their mother tongue is Indonesian. “That’s what we can’t ignore,” he said.

Undiksha Vice Chancellor, Prof. Suastra expressed his appreciation for the implementation of this event because it can provide space for creativity and develop the potential of students and students. “We at the institution certainly appreciate it because here we provide space as an opportunity for creativity because that is needed for children’s competence so that they can develop their potential to fill themselves, display what they have so they know what their competence is,” he said.

In addition to the palm writing competition, this Language and Literature Festival is filled with poetry creation and reading competitions as well as cultural arts performances. (FBS)