Cia-Cia Tribe : In News
The Cia-Cia tribe on Buton Island, Indonesia, is using Hangul, the Korean alphabet, to document and preserve their indigenous language, which has survived orally for centuries but lacks its own script.
- Cia-Cia tribe is Indigenous community in Buton Island, Indonesia, with a population of around 93,000.
- The Cia-Cia language has existed orally for centuries without a formal script, making it vulnerable to extinction.
- Preservation efforts: To prevent language loss, Cia-Cia is being transcribed using Hangul, which aligns closely with its phonetic structure.
Hangul Script:
- Known for its unique phonetic system of circles and lines, representing sounds clearly.
- Adoption for Cia-Cia: Introduced in 2009 for Cia-Cia as Arabic script did not suit the language’s sounds.
- Implementation: Used in schools, textbooks, and public signs in Cia-Cia areas.
- Cultural concerns: While some fear cultural influence, others believe the adaptation helps preserve Cia-Cia’s uniqueness.
