PERAN BAHASA UAB METO DALAM MEMPERTAHANKAN IDENTITAS BUDAYA MASYARAKAT SUKU TIMOR (STUDI KASUS DI DESA PENFUI TIMUR)

Abstrak

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan peran Bahasa Uab meto dalam mempertahankan identitas budaya masyarakat Suku Timor di Desa Penfui Timur, Kecamatan Kupang Tengah, Kabupaten Kupang. Penelitian menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan metode studi kasus. Pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui observasi, wawancara mendalam terhadap lima informan kunci yang terdiri atas Kepala Desa, tokoh adat, tenaga pendidik, generasi muda, dan remaja, serta studi dokumentasi. Analisis data dilakukan melalui tahapan reduksi data, penyajian data, dan penarikan kesimpulan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa Bahasa Uab meto tidak hanya berfungsi sebagai alat komunikasi, tetapi juga merupakan simbol utama sekaligus representasi identitas budaya masyarakat Atoni Pah Meto. Peran tersebut tercermin dalam fungsinya sebagai penanda asal-usul dan identitas kelompok, media pewarisan nilai-nilai budaya, kearifan lokal, serta filosofi hidup, bahasa utama dalam pelaksanaan upacara adat, sarana memperkuat solidaritas sosial dan ikatan kekerabatan, serta benteng pelestarian budaya di tengah pengaruh globalisasi dan modernisasi. Meskipun demikian, keberadaan Bahasa Uab meto menghadapi berbagai tantangan, antara lain meningkatnya penggunaan Bahasa Indonesia dan bahasa asing, serta menurunnya minat generasi muda dalam menggunakan bahasa daerah. Penelitian ini menyimpulkan bahwa keberlangsungan identitas budaya masyarakat Suku Timor sangat bergantung pada upaya pelestarian, penggunaan, dan pewarisan Bahasa Uab meto secara berkelanjutan melalui peran aktif keluarga, masyarakat, lembaga pendidikan, dan pemerintah.

This study aims to describe the role of the Uab meto language in preserving the cultural identity of the Timorese community in Penfui Timur Village, Central Kupang District, Kupang Regency. The study employed a qualitative approach using a case study method. Data were collected through observation, in-depth interviews with five key informants consisting of the Village Head, a traditional leader, an educator, a young adult, and an adolescent, as well as document analysis. The data were analyzed through the stages of data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The findings indicate that the Uab meto language serves not only as a means of communication but also as a primary symbol and representation of the cultural identity of the Atoni Pah Meto community. Its role is reflected in its function as a marker of ancestry and group identity, a medium for transmitting cultural values, local wisdom, and life philosophy, the primary language used in traditional ceremonies, a means of strengthening social solidarity and kinship ties, and a safeguard for cultural preservation amid the influences of globalization and modernization. Nevertheless, the Uab meto language faces several challenges, including the increasing dominance of the Indonesian language and foreign languages, as well as the declining interest of the younger generation in using their local language. This study concludes that the sustainability of the cultural identity of the Timorese community largely depends on continuous efforts to preserve, use, and transmit the Uab meto language through the active involvement of families, communities, educational institutions, and the government.