Cia-Cia people of Baubau, Indonesia adopt Hangul
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In Baubau, Indonesia, the Cia-Cia language has adopted Hangul (the Korean alphabet) as its script to help preserve its spoken form, since it previously had no standardized written system. The Hangul script was chosen because its syllable-based structure aligns well with the Cia-Cia language, making it easier for community members in Baubau to write and read their language using this writing system.
Background
- Baubau is a city in Southeast Sulawesi where the Cia-Cia people reside.
- Cia-Cia previously had no established script and had difficulty representing its language with the Latin alphabet used by Indonesia’s national language.
- Hangul’s adoption began in 2009 as part of a cultural exchange between Baubau city and Korean linguists.
How Hangul is Used in Baubau
- Hangul is used to transcribe Cia-Cia, with local teachers receiving formal training in Korea and educational materials developed specifically for this purpose.
- Almost every villager in Baubau has become capable of writing in Hangul, albeit for the purpose of writing Cia-Cia and not Korean.
- Hangul’s syllable-block structure makes it effective for accurately representing Cia-Cia sounds.
Examples
Some examples of Cia-Cia words written in Hangul (as recorded):
| Cia-Cia Word (Latin) | Hangul Script | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Adi | 아디 | [name] |
| Sering | 세링 | often |
| Pali | 빨리 | very |
| Nononto | 노논또 | — |
The table above demonstrates how Cia-Cia words are rendered using Hangul, directly reflecting the syllable sounds.
Cultural Impact
- The use of Hangul has brought positive attention to both Cia-Cia language preservation and the adaptability of the Korean script.
- There have been concerns over cultural authenticity, yet the approach remains a unique case of script adoption for language revitalization.
In essence, "writing Baubau in Hangul" refers to the city where this script-lending project occurred, and by extension, to the use of Hangul as the writing system for the local Cia-Cia language.
- https://www.koreaboo.com/stories/korean-alphabet-hangul-saving-near-extinct-indonesian-dialect/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dtTBDEXVYY
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cia-Cia_language
- https://thekoreaninme.com/blogs/learn-korean/hangul-everything-you-need-to-know-about-it/
- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/indigenous-indonesians-use-korean-letters-to-save-dialect/articleshow/106141067.cms
- https://www.todayonline.com/world/indigenous-indonesians-use-korean-letters-save-dialect-2329541
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunminjeongeum_Society
- https://harian.disway.id/read/875665/hangul-di-baubau-jejak-budaya-dan-linguistik-indonesia-korea
- https://mebusiness.ae/en/news/show/95614
- https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2023/12/21/using-korean-to-save-dialect
