Language is one of the catches of reality that is used by humans as a means of establishing communication. This product has also been used for thousands of years and has many variations in each hemisphere. At the present, there are at least 7097 languages recorded in the world, and in Indonesia alone there are about 700 languages. That’s a fantastic number, considering that in everyday practice, not a third of that number is the number of languages we speak or speak.

Like natural resources, language can also be destroyed, and now the extinction is insight. Marian Klamer, a professor at Leiden who focuses on Papuan and Austronesian languages, also responds to this phenomenon by documenting and filing it on an online website so that it can be accessed by all parties. Marian’s activities in documenting regional languages in eastern Indonesia were then shared in a discussion session entitled Documenting the linguistic diversity of Indonesia: Time is running out, last Thursday (27/6) at Soegondo 209.

The activity of documenting the language is part of Klamer’s research as a researcher at Leiden University who received a VICI grant from the NWO (Netherlands Organization of Scientific Research) in 2014 which was valid for five years until 2019. In the presentation session, Klamer admitted that there are many languages. local area in eastern Indonesia where the number of speakers is very small, there is even one local language, namely Sar language, which only has one speaker.

The extinction could arise due to several factors, such as migration, the death of the last speaker, and also human intervention. An example of an intervention that is also faced directly in the field is the marginalization of local languages ​​by migrants who come to an area. More or less, according to Klamer’s data, there have been 345 local languages ​​in Indonesia that have become extinct, and of course, it is very unfortunate because no one can replace the position of these languages ​​in society. Loss of language is a form of great loss because each language is the best way to express ideas/ideas, and transfer knowledge and oral traditions that are directly related to the socio-cultural conditions of the speakers.

One of the corners of FIB that many students visit after class is Kansas. there we can also enjoy and participate in an exhibition at Luweng Soegondo. This gallery is next door to Kansas . If you are curious, what is Luweng Soegondo and what does it contain? kindly check out our instagram post for more info 🙂

On April 14th, 2022, La Rochelle University and the Cultural Attache of the Embassy of France visited the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada.

Welcomed by the Dean, Vice Dean of Research, Community Services, Cooperation, and Alumni Affairs, Vice Dean of Finances, Assets, and Human Resources, and the Head of the French Literature Programme, the visit discussed the potential for cooperation, both for academic staff exchanges and student exchanges.

On April 26th, 2022, at Pendapa Dalem Jayadipuran, Balai Pelestarian Nilai Budaya (Bureau of Cultural Values Conservation/BNPB) D.I. Yogyakarta signed a memorandum of understanding with the Universitas Gadjah Mada Faculty of Cultural Sciences.

The MoU is a part of FIB UGM’s efforts to create synergy between the Faculty and partners in order to realize the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology’s “Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka” vision: to provide students with opportunities to sharpen their skills and interests, preparing them for the future workforce.

FIB UGM’s envoy was welcomed by the Head of BNPB D.I. Yogyakarta in the Assembly Hall, who proceeded to explain the role of BNPB D.I.Y.. The MoU was signed by the Head of BNPB D.I.Y., Dwi Ratna Nurhajarini, M.Hum. and the Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Dr. Setiadi, M.Si..