Ritual as a conservation space for using language

Abstract

This paper aims to explain the role of ritual as a conservation space for language Using in Banyuwangi Regency, East Java Province, Indonesia. Using Banyuwangi community that identifies itself as a native of Blambangan is currently concentrated in several fertile agricultural areas, such as Glagah, Licin, and Singojuruh. They live side by side with various ethnic groups, such as Bali, Bugis, Chinese, Javanese, Madurese, Mandar, and Sundanese. The hegemony of people living in Banyuwangi, on the one hand, makes Using communities still eager to maintain their identity. On the other hand, they must adapt, relate, and cooperate with communities across ethnic groups that make Using society face two realities, namely adapting and maintaining the identity inherited from their ancestors. Previous studies have found that to preserve the Using language people can use the traditional arts of Gandrung and Seblang Olehsari and Bakungan Rituals in which the classical lyrics are sung as one of the conservation media of Using language. T By using the qualitative method on the ethnology analysis this article specifically describes the potential of traditional arts of Gandrung and Seblang ritual as a conservation medium for Using languages. This potential has become an opportunity to realize the use of language as a means of identifying the community while strengthening the identity of Using community in Banyuwangi.