The Existence of the Diglosia Phenomena: A Sociolinguistics Study of Meto Language Speaker Communities in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

Abstract

This article is a sociolinguistics study that investigates the diglossia phenomenon and its impact on language use, maintenance, and policy in the context of the Meto language speaker communities in Indonesia. The study identifies the potential loss of the high variety of Meto due to the dominance of the low variety, which is used more frequently in informal contexts. This shift towards the low variety can result in the loss of linguistic and cultural diversity and lead to language shift, where the high variety of Meto is less frequently used. The article highlights the importance of language maintenance to preserve the linguistic and cultural diversity of the Meto language speaker communities. Language policy can play a vital role in addressing the diglossia phenomenon and promoting language maintenance. The study suggests that language policymakers should promote the use and maintenance of the high variety of Meto, recognize and support the low variety of Meto, and develop policies that preserve linguistic and cultural diversity. The article concludes with recommendations for language policymakers to address the diglossia phenomenon and promote linguistic and cultural diversity in the Meto language speaker communities. Overall, the study provides valuable insights into the sociolinguistic phenomenon of diglossia and its impact on language use, maintenance, and policy in the context of the Meto language speaker communities in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.