Tansi language

Last updated
Tansi
bahasa Tansi
Native to Indonesia
Region Sawahlunto, West Sumatra
EthnicityTansi people
Native speakers
60,000
Mixed with Malay-based lexicon
Dialects
  • Pusat Kota Lama
  • Teras Kota Lama
Latin
Language codes
ISO 639-3
Glottolog None

Tansi language, derived from the word Tangsi literally 'barracks', is a mixed language which was mainly used by coal miners during the Dutch colonial era in Sawahlunto, West Sumatra. These workers created their language as a result of language contact since this area became a modern mining town. This is the first known mixed language in Indonesia that was born from a labor background and is located in the interior. [1]

Contents

Tansi language originates from language contact with no less than 10 languages, namely Javanese, Sundanese, Madurese, Balinese, Bugis, Batak, Chinese, Minangkabau, Dutch, and Malay as the basic lexicon. [2]

History

Starting from the discovery of coal deposits in the east of Singkarak in 1851 by C. de Groot and the discovery of coal layers in Ulu Air, in the Batang Ombilin area in 1868 by W.H. de Greve, a Dutch geologist. The previous discovery was strengthened by P. van Diest's research, indicating the coal content in the bowels of the Lunto River hills at least 205 million tonnes and spread along the Ombilin River. [3]

Seeing the potential for profit, the Dutch East Indies government then realized the exploitation of the coal mine. Even at a considerable cost, a railway line was built from Ombilin in Sawahlunto to Emma Haven Port (Teluk Bayur). This was the early period of Sawahlunto's transformation from a 'rice field in an empty, uninhabited hillside' into a modern mining town. [2]

The Tansi language emergence itself began with the operation of the Ombilin Coal Mine and the flow of migration from various regions to Sawahlunto. The immigrants came from various regions in the Dutch East Indies and from various European nations who also settled around the mine. The mine workers, especially forced laborers or also called forced laborers, were originally prisoners from the Muaro Padang prison. Because they often escaped, the Dutch East Indies government finally brought in prisoners from prisons in Batavia. These prisoners mainly consisted of Javanese, Balinese, Madurese, and Bugis. They were forced to work digging coal in mining pits. Prisoners who were considered dangerous, especially political prisoners, had their feet, necks, and hands chained. They were called orang rantai or kettingganger 'chain people'. This is what later became the seed of the diversity of the Sawahlunto residents. [2]

As a medium of communication, a mixed language was finally created which is popularly known as a pidgin language. By the second and subsequent generations of users, the pidgin language is then slowly used as mother tongue. Because this language was formed from its speakers, namely coal miners who live and reside in barracks, this language is called the Tansi language 'barracks language'.

On 10 October 2018, the Tansi language was designated as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Indonesia by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology. [4]

Distribution

Tansi language generally developed and was used in the old city area, namely in Tangsi Rante (where the 'chain people' were known), Tangsi Tanah Lapang, and Tangsi Baru which are located in Air Dingin, until now the descendants of the 'chain people' who live in the Tangsi area still use the Tansi language. Apart from that, there are also scattered Tansi speakers in Tangsi in other areas of Sawahlunto, such as Tangsi Baru, Tangsi Duren, Tansi Sunge Duren, and Tansi Sikalang. [1]

Dialects

There are at least two known dialects of the Tansi language, the Pusat Kota Lama dialect (in Lembah Segar; PKL dialect) and the Teras Kota Lama dialect (in Barangin and Talawi; TKL dialect). The PKL dialect has been influenced to a certain extent by Indonesian language, while those who still speak the original Tansi language are the speakers of the TKL dialect. [1]

Example conversation

The following is an example of a conversation in Tansi, with a dialect that has been mixed with modern Indonesian.

1.pr.: "Ni Risa, mo mana ke?"

(Sis Risa, where are you going?)

2.pr.: "Mo belanja"

(Want to go shopping)

1.pr.: "mana?"

(Where to?)

2.pr.: "Kede, mo titip apa ke?"

(Go to the shop, what do you want to leave?)

1.pr.: "Ndak, aku sangka mo pigi pasar, aku mo titip bayam"

(No, I thought I was going to the market, I wanted to send some spinach)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sumbawa</span> Island in Indonesia

Sumbawa is an Indonesian island, located in the middle of the Lesser Sunda Islands chain, with Lombok to the west, Flores to the east, and Sumba further to the southeast. Along with Lombok, it forms the province of West Nusa Tenggara, but there have been plans by the Indonesian government to split the island off into a separate province. Traditionally, the island is known as the source of sappanwood, as well as honey and sandalwood. Its savanna-like climate and vast grasslands are used to breed horses and cattle, as well as to hunt deer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buginese language</span> Language spoken in Indonesia

Buginese or Bugis is a language spoken by about 4 million people mainly in the southern part of Sulawesi, Indonesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Javanese language</span> Austronesian language

Javanese is a Malayo-Polynesian language spoken by the Javanese people from the central and eastern parts of the island of Java, Indonesia. There are also pockets of Javanese speakers on the northern coast of western Java. It is the native language of more than 68 million people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madurese language</span> Language spoken in Indonesia

Madurese is a language of the Madurese people, native to the Madura Island and Eastern Java, Indonesia; it is also spoken by migrants to other parts of Indonesia, namely the eastern salient of Java, the Masalembu Islands and even some on Kalimantan. It was traditionally written in the Javanese script, but the Latin script and the Pegon script is now more commonly used. The number of speakers, though shrinking, is estimated to be 10-13 million, making it one of the most widely spoken languages in the country. Bawean Madurese, which is a dialect of Madurese, is also spoken by Baweanese descendants in Malaysia and Singapore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Makassarese language</span> Austronesian language of South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Makassarese, sometimes called Makasar, Makassar, or Macassar, is a language of the Makassarese people, spoken in South Sulawesi province of Indonesia. It is a member of the South Sulawesi group of the Austronesian language family, and thus closely related to, among others, Buginese, also known as Bugis. The areas where Makassarese is spoken include the Gowa, Sinjai, Maros, Takalar, Jeneponto, Bantaeng, Pangkajene and Islands, Bulukumba, and Selayar Islands Regencies, and Makassar. Within the Austronesian language family, Makassarese is part of the South Sulawesi language group, although its vocabulary is considered divergent compared to its closest relatives. In 2000, Makassarese had approximately 2.1 million native speakers.

In addition to its classical and modern literary form, Malay had various regional dialects established after the rise of the Srivijaya empire in Sumatra, Indonesia. Also, Malay spread through interethnic contact and trade across the south East Asia Archipelago as far as the Philippines. That contact resulted in a lingua franca that was called Bazaar Malay or low Malay and in Malay Melayu Pasar. It is generally believed that Bazaar Malay was a pidgin, influenced by contact among Malay, Hokkien, Portuguese, and Dutch traders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madurese people</span> Ethnic group of Madura Island, Indonesia

Madurese, Madurans, Madurites or Madurace are one of the Javan ethnic groups native to the Indonesian island of Madura in Java Sea, off the northeastern coast of Java. They speak their own native Madurese language, shared common history, traditions, and cultural identity. Nationwide, the Madurese are the third largest ethnic group in Indonesia, and one of the well-known Indonesian national dishes of Satay also ultimately attributed as the national culinary heritage of Madura-origin invented by the Madurese.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pontianak</span> City and capital of West Kalimantan, Indonesia

Pontianak is the capital of the Indonesian province of West Kalimantan, founded first as a trading port on the island of Borneo, occupying an area of 118.21 km2 in the delta of the Kapuas River, at a point where it is joined by its major tributary, the Landak River. The city is on the equator, hence it is widely known as Kota Khatulistiwa. The city center is less than 3 kilometres (2 mi) south of the equator. Pontianak is the 23rd most populous city in Indonesia, and the fourth most populous city on the island of Borneo (Kalimantan) after Samarinda, Balikpapan and (Malaysia's) Kuching; it is now slightly ahead of Banjarmasin. It had a population of 658,685 at the 2020 Census within the city limits, with significant suburbs outside those limits. The official estimate as of mid-2023 was 675,468.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sawahlunto</span> City in Sumatra, Indonesia

Sawahlunto is a city in West Sumatra, Indonesia. It lies 90 kilometres from Padang, the provincial capital. Sawahlunto is known as the site for the oldest coal mining site in Southeast Asia. Sawahlunto is geographically located in a narrow valley along the Bukit Barisan mountains and surrounded by several hills, namely Bukit Polan, Bukit Pari, and Bukit Mato. The town has a land area of 273.45 sq. km, and had a population of 56,866 at the 2010 Census, 60,136 at the 2015 Census, and 65,138 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as at mid-2023 was 67,760 - comprising 34,090 males and 33,670 females.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jambi Malay</span> Language in Indonesia

Jambi Malay, is a Malayic language primarily spoken by the Jambi Malay people in Jambi, Indonesia, but also spoken by migrants who have settled in Jambi. Jambi Malay is considered as a dialect of the Malay language that is mainly spoken in Jambi, but it is also used in the southern part of Riau and the northern part of South Sumatra. In Jambi, Jambi Malay has eight dialects, including the Tanjung Jabung dialect, Jambi City dialect, Muaro Jambi dialect, Batanghari dialect, Tebo dialect, Bungo dialect, Sarolangun dialect, and Merangin dialect. Jambi Malay is used as a lingua franca and for interaction among the various ethnic groups in Jambi. The differences between each dialect in Jambi Malay range from about 51 to 80 percent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Languages of Indonesia</span>

Indonesia is home to over 700 living languages spoken across its extensive archipelago. This significant linguistic variety constitutes approximately 10% of the world’s total languages, positioning Indonesia as the second most linguistically diverse nation globally, following Papua New Guinea. The majority of these languages belong to the Austronesian language family, prevalent in the western and central regions of Indonesia, including languages such as Acehnese, Sundanese, and Buginese. In contrast, the eastern regions, particularly Papua and the Maluku Islands, are home to over 270 Papuan languages, which are distinct from the Austronesian family and represent a unique linguistic heritage. The language most widely spoken as a native language is Javanese, primarily by the Javanese people in the central and eastern parts of Java Island, as well as across many other islands due to migration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lampung language</span> Language in Indonesia

Lampung or Lampungic is an Austronesian language or dialect cluster with around 1.5 million native speakers, who primarily belong to the Lampung ethnic group of southern Sumatra, Indonesia. It is divided into two or three varieties: Lampung Api, Lampung Nyo, and Komering. The latter is sometimes included in Lampung Api, sometimes treated as an entirely separate language. Komering people see themselves as ethnically separate from, but related to, Lampung people.

The Bima language, or Bimanese, is an Austronesian language spoken on the eastern half of Sumbawa Island, Indonesia, which it shares with speakers of the Sumbawa language. Bima territory includes the Sanggar Peninsula, where the extinct Papuan language Tambora was once spoken. Bima is an exonym; the autochthonous name for the territory is Mbojo and the language is referred to as Nggahi Mbojo. There are over half a million Bima speakers. Neither the Bima nor the Sumbawa people have alphabets of their own for they use the alphabets of the Bugis and the Malay language indifferently.

Negeri Sembilan Malay is an Austronesian language spoken mainly in the Malaysian state of Negeri Sembilan, including Alor Gajah and parts of Jasin District in northern Malacca, and parts of Segamat District in the northernmost part of Johor. The language is spoken by the descendants of Minangkabau settlers from Sumatra, who have migrated to Negeri Sembilan since as early as the 14th century. It is often considered a variant or dialect of the Minangkabau language; lexical and phonological studies, however, indicate that it is more closely related to Standard Malay than it is to Minangkabau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Padang railway station</span> Railway station in Indonesia

Padang Station (PD) is a railway station of the Pulau Aie–Padang Panjang railway and Teluk Bayur–Padang railway located at Jl. Stasiun No. 1, Simpang Haru, Eastern Padang, Padang, West Sumatra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ombilin Coal Mine</span> Mine in Indonesia

The Ombilin Coal Mine is a coal mine near Sawahlunto, West Sumatra, Indonesia. It is located in a narrow valley along the Bukit Barisan mountains, among the Polan, Pari, and Mato hills, approximately 70 kilometres (43 mi) northeast of Padang. Coal was discovered in the mid-19th century by Willem Hendrik de Greve, and mining began in the area in 1876. The mine is the oldest coal mining site in Southeast Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nurul Islam Great Mosque</span> Mosque in Sawahlunto, West Sumatra, Indonesia

The Nurul Islam Great Mosque or also known as Sawahlunto Great Mosque is one of the oldest mosques in Indonesia located in Kubang Subdistrict of North Sirakuak, District of Lembah Segar, Sawahlunto town, West Sumatra. The location is about 150 meters from the Sawahlunto Railway Museum.

Willem Hendrik de Greve was a Dutch geologist. He was known for his discovery of the coal mine in Sawahlunto, Dutch East Indies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indonesian Arabic</span> Arabic language variety

Indonesian Arabic is a variety of Arabic spoken in Indonesia. It is primarily spoken by people of Arab descents and by students (santri) who study Arabic at Islamic educational institutions or pesantren. This language generally incorporates loanwords from regional Indonesian languages in its usage, reflecting the areas where it is spoken.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Bahasa Tansi Sawahlunto sebagai Bahasa Kreol". Radio Buku (in Indonesian). 2010-11-02. Archived from the original on 2019-04-28. Retrieved 2017-12-31.
  2. 1 2 3 Syafril, Elsa Putri Ermisah (1 April 2011). Menggali Bara, Menemu Bahasa: Bahasa Tansi, Bahasa Kreol Buruh dari Sawahlunto (in Indonesian). Sawahlunto: Pemerintah Kota Sawahlunto. ISBN   978-602-95957-1-0.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  3. "Bahasa Tansi Sawahlunto: Bahasa 'Kreol Buruh' Pertama Di Indonesia". teraszaman.blogspot.co.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2017-12-31.
  4. "Mengenal Bahasa Tansi Sawahlunto yang Jadi Warisan Budaya Tak Benda". tirto.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2019-04-28.