Indonesian Tribe Revitalizes Language with Korean Alphabet

In a remarkable effort to sustain their heritage, children of the Cia-Cia tribe in Indonesia are learning to write their indigenous language using Hangul, the Korean script, as they aim to safeguard their oral tradition against potential extinction.

Excitement filled the air as students at Hendea Elementary School in Baubau, Indonesia, began their lessons. Each desk was adorned with nameplates inscribed in Hangul, the Korean script. However, these young learners were not exploring the Korean language; they were utilizing Hangul to write and learn Cia-Cia, an indigenous language that has been preserved through oral traditions for centuries. Today, around 93,000 members of the Cia-Cia tribe on Buton Island, situated southeast of Sulawesi, continue this legacy.

“Say, ‘ph.’ Take a piece of paper, and ensure it moves as you pronounce,” instructed Deuk-young Jung, a dedicated educator teaching this unique integration for over ten years. Amid Indonesia’s rich linguistic diversity—home to 700 native languages, making it the world's second-most diverse nation after Papua New Guinea—Buton Island boasts several local languages and numerous dialects. However, many are in danger of vanishing as they lack a written form.

Amirul Tamim, a former mayor of Baubau and a driving force behind the Cia-Cia language's preservation, emphasized the importance of language in embodying a community’s wealth and legacy. “Language reflects a tribe’s civilization, and without its own alphabet, a language loses its authenticity,” he warned.

Through the embrace of Hangul, these children are not only gaining literacy in their own language but are also contributing to the preservation of their cultural identity, ensuring that the Cia-Cia language's rich history continues to thrive for generations to come.