Mongondow Pronoun: The Teaching of Indonesian Local Language in the Context of National Language

Abstract

One of the endangered local languages in Eastern region of Indonesia is Mongondow Language (Bahasa Mongondow). Despite its usage among local people of Mongondow, this language is in the threat of fading out due to the existence of Manado Malay and national language. Dealing with this challenge, the government launched a curriculum emphasizing upon the inclusion of local contents including language in the learning process. One of which is Mongondow pronoun that is significantly used for plural activties and continous intensity. Within such context, this research paper aims at revealing the comparison of pronoun of Mongondow language to Indonesian national language in terms of form and function. It also discusses the contribution of the local language to the learning of national language in schools. This research is descriptively qualitative in nature. Data are taken from several regions in Mongondow which are considered being the place for the speakers of the language. The data are comparatively analyzed. The results show that it is true that the pronoun of Mongondow language take several forms, however they have its similiraties to that of Indonesian national language in terms of forms, functions and meanings. These similarities define the benefits of using the local language to the learning of the national language in the regions of Mongondow.