Toponymy and Shifted Identity: A Study of the Language Change in Rejang-Language Village Names
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1610.27Keywords:
toponymy, Rejang language, language shift, Kepahiang Regency, cultural identityAbstract
This study examines the changes in village names from the Rejang language to Indonesian in Kepahiang Regency, Bengkulu, focusing on referential meanings, community perceptions, and the impact on local cultural identity. Using referential meaning analysis and thematic analysis based on interviews with both older and younger generations, the findings show that the language shift alters not only linguistic forms but also the cultural, historical, and spiritual values embedded in the original toponyms. This process weakens intergenerational cultural transmission and raises the risk of losing local identity. While some community members accept the name changes as part of adaptation to modernity, many believe the original names should be preserved to ensure historical continuity and maintain local wisdom. The study emphasizes that Rejang toponyms serve as cultural archives that record collective memory and calls for integrating education, scholarly documentation, and regional policies to sustain the cultural identity and heritage of the Rejang community.
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