SERAWAI LANGUAGE SHIFT AND MAINTENANCE IN BENGKULU MALAY HEGEMONY IN THE CITY OF BENGKULU

Abstract

This paper talks about Serawai language shift and maintenance in Bengkulu. Often, when two speakers of communication from two different communities, will tend to use other language that can bridge the language difference. The language is Bengkulu Malay. Bengkulu Malay language used by all the tribes who lived and live in the city of Bengkulu, both newcomers Javanese, Batak, Sundanese, Chinese, Padang, Pasmah and the local indigenous tribes such as Serawai, Rejang, Lembak, and Bengkulu Malay. Language shift occurs in some domains such as religious, educational, family, neighborhood, and workplace. Factors that contribute to the shift are economic, social, political, and demographic. Several maintenance efforts should be taken include the need for government policies in education and culture