French
DeutschTansi language
| Tansi | |
|---|---|
| bahasa Tansi | |
| Native to | Indonesia |
| Region | Sawahlunto, West Sumatra |
| Ethnicity | Tansi people |
Native speakers | 60,000 |
| Dialects |
|
| 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]
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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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)
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "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.
- ^ a b c 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) - ^ "Bahasa Tansi Sawahlunto: Bahasa 'Kreol Buruh' Pertama Di Indonesia". teraszaman.blogspot.co.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2017-12-31.
- ^ "Mengenal Bahasa Tansi Sawahlunto yang Jadi Warisan Budaya Tak Benda". tirto.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2019-04-28.
