BALINESE LANGUAGE AS THE ROOT OF BALINESE CULTURES

Thanks for the time given to me.

-          Your excellencies the committee

-          The honorable of juries

-          Dear my friends who participates this speech contest

-          And my loving brothers and sisters

In the name of God, the lord of the world, the master of the day after, the creator of everything in this universe, where he has no partner. He has also given us such deeply enjoyable, particularly faith and healthy comfort, hence, we could attend here in a good situation.

“Om Swasyastu”

Ladies and gentlemen,

Indeed, it is a great pleasure for me in this precious chance to deliver my speech to the most honorable audiences entitled:

“BALINESE LANGUAGE AS THE ROOT OF BALINESE CULTURES”

Language is the root of the cultures of a region. Generally, a region has two languages; they are bahasa ibu or native language and bahasa nasional or national language. Bahasa ibu or native language is the real language and develop in a passed on from one generation to the next generation of the region. Each region has their native language. Bahasa nasional or national language is a language that have been claimed formally and used in the national societies of the country.

In everyday life, native language as the main priority, and then, develop into formal situation, we must use the national language. But, in the larger societies, namely businesses, tourisms, and studies, we need many languages of the other countries in the world, especially the international languages, like English, Japanese language, French, Spanish, Germany, and so on.

For example, many tourists come to Bali. The tourists that come to Bali come from many countries with different language. If we don’t understand, what they speak, we can not serve them kindly. So, we as Balinese people that live in a tourism environment must understand what they speak. We must master some of their languages. To understand it, Balinese people must study their languages and also their cultures. So that, we can assimilate with them.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Bali is including the country of Indonesia. Bali is a small island, located between Java Island and Lombok Island. Now, Bali is one of the main tourisms destinations in the world. As we know, in this year, Ubud, a small area in Gianyar regency, Bali province got award as the most beautiful village in Asia. With the measure of Bali Island, if we compare it with the other islands, Bali Island is so small than the other islands. Moreover, Bali Island is including one of the small islands in the Indonesian archipelago. So, what is the reason that makes Bali, a small island, as one of the main tourism objects of the tourists?

In the world, Bali is an island that well known as a paradise island, the island of a thousands temples or the island of the gods. Bali becomes a famous island because of the beauty of the sceneries, the friendliness of the populations, and the main factor is Bali has so many beautiful and unique cultures, namely the dances, the handicrafts, the paintings, the statues,  include the language that used by the most of the populations in their everyday activities. It can attract the tourists to come to Bali as one of the main tourisms destinations in the world.

Ladies and gentlemen,

As we know, many tourists come to Bali. They come to Bali with many purposes. But, most of them come to Bali to have a vacation. They interest to the beautiful sceneries of Bali Island and also the uniqueness of the Balinese cultures. So, we must keep the continuance of Balinese cultures by keeping the existence of the root of them, Balinese language.

Balinese language supports the development of the Balinese cultures. Now, Bali and its culture have been known in the world. As a religious people, Balinese people always held a ceremony that called Yadnya. Which is in the implementation, Balinese people always use Balinese language to communicate with other people. Besides, when the Balinese people held a routine meeting or well known as “Sangkepan” also use Balinese language. Moreover, when they held a “Yadnya” Balinese people always held an entertainment like a drama, which is called “Arja.” The dialog of the drama, mostly use Balinese language. Yadnya, Sangkepan, drama are including the Balinese cultures. We can see Balinese language supports the development of the cultures of Bali, because without Balinese language, Balinese people can’t hold them. And if it happens, Bali will lose its cultures.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The government also takes apart in the effort of the continuation of the Balinese language. The government put the subject of Balinese language into the school curriculum. Besides, the government also often held contests related to Balinese language and the cultures, such as singing Balinese song or Mekidung, speech in Balinese language, writing Balinese word or Lontar, dancing, and many others.

We as students also have to support the development of the Balinese language. We must use it in our daily live. Besides, we must attend the contests especially the contests related to Balinese language and the cultures. We as the young generations don’t be shy to use Balinese language in our daily activities. On the contrary, we must proud of it because by using Balinese language we can keep our cultures.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Now, we can see how important language especially Balinese language in keeping the existence of the cultures of Bali is. So, we as the young generations must keep the Balinese language as the root of our cultures and our life. So, I am urging everyone to take it is as a challenge to improve in Balinese language if you want to keep the cultures of Bali. You can learn or improve your Balinese skills by the following ways:

1.             Much reading the texts that use Balinese language

2.             Always use Balinese language in daily live

3.             Watch the balinese TV programs

4.             Search for opportunities to use your Balinese language

Ladies and gentlemen,

I think it’s completely enough for me to this point. The wrong are caused by limitation of my ability and the right one is merely from God. So, I beg your pardon, finally I say many thanks for your attention.

“Om Santhi, Santhi, Santhi Om”