Marginalization in the Nickel Industry: A Sociolinguistic Study of Communities in Central Halmahera, Indonesia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1607.18Keywords:
sociolinguistics, marginality, Central Halmahera, nickel industry, social identityAbstract
This study aims to examine how language practices reflect power relations, social identity, and forms of marginalization experienced by local communities during the expansion of the nickel industry, especially in the Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park (IWIP). The research employed a qualitative approach of a case study conducted in Central Halmahera Regency, North Maluku Province, Indonesia. The 15 informants consisted of community leaders, non-governmental organization (NGO) activists, local government representatives, and local community members. Data were collected from various locations representing industrial centers, coastal regions, and peripheral areas and then analyzed to identify patterns of language use, key terms, and narratives circulating at the local level. The results showed that there was a significant difference in language use between the groups that interacted intensively with the industry and those that were relatively marginalized. Certain narratives contained markers of identity, resistance, and adaptation strategies to socio-economic changes that occur. These findings indicate that language plays a crucial role as an arena for identity negotiation and symbolic resistance, as well as reflecting the power dynamics generated by the industrialization of resources in Central Halmahera Regency.
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