Revitalisasi Bahasa Gayo melalui KKN tematik berbasis partisipasi komunitas di Aceh Tengah

Abstract

Mother tongue plays a vital role in preserving cultural identity and transmitting local values across generations. However, globalization and the dominance of national and foreign languages have significantly weakened the vitality of many regional languages in Indonesia, including Gayo, spoken in Aceh Tengah. This community engagement program aimed to revitalize the use of the Gayo language through a thematic Community Service Program (KKN) using a participatory approach. The research employed a combination of literature review and field study methods within a Participatory Action Research (PAR) framework, placing the local community as active agents in the planning, implementation, and evaluation stages. Conducted over two months in Bebesen District, the program involved local stakeholders, including traditional leaders, teachers, students, and parents. The results demonstrated a significant increase in the daily use of the Gayo language within households and informal community settings. Moreover, there was a noticeable shift in public attitudes, with the Gayo language increasingly perceived as a source of cultural pride rather than as an outdated mode of communication. These findings highlight that language revitalization requires not only technical interventions but also culturally contextualized social strategies. This initiative aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 11 (Sustainable Communities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The study concludes that regional language revitalization is achievable through inclusive collaboration between communities, higher education institutions, and local policy frameworks.