BALINESE IN PUBLIC SPACES (A LINGUSTIC LANDSCAPES STUDY IN KUTA VILLAGE)

Abstract

Balinese oral tradition is very strong and unique due to its complexity and sacred. The most obvious known Balinese oral tradition is mantra, kidung and kakawin. These traditions are only mastered by those who committed to learn them seriously, because all written sources of those traditions were originally written in Balinese Scripts known as anacaraka. This study is aimed to investigating the presence of Balinese Scripts in public spaces in Kuta village as part of tradition and globalization. In this globalization era, tourism industry development has changed the environment face of Kuta into multilingual spaces. But, unfortunately, it was found that Balinese Scripts only use in traditional spaces in which it was marginalized by others. In 2018, in order to preserve the local tradition and identity, Balinese Government issued a regulation that oblique all outdoor signs in public spaces should put Balinese Scripts transcription above their Latin words. The research finding showed significance proves that through the power of authority, Balinese language and Scripts have begun to gain their position in public spaces, not just represented as a traditional sign but also as a local identity in international market shares. Almost all commercial signs of 4-star and 5-star hotel and restaurant along the main streets used Balinese Scripts transcription above their Latin names. These indicate that Balinese tradition has survived from globalization in Kuta.