Research on Humanities and Social Sciences www.iiste.org ISSN (Paper)2224-5766 ISSN (Online)2225-0484 (Online) Vol.4, No.17, 2014 1 Factor of Attitude Contributing to the Maintenance of Balinese Language among Transmigrant Communities in Sukamaju North Luwu Jumharia Djamereng jumharia@yahoo.com Abstract The article is To find out whether attitude factor contribute the to the language maintenance of Balinese language in the transmigration area Sukamaju North Luwu. The research is conducted in sub district Sukamaju North Luwu Regency. It is a qualitative and quantitative research which applied observation, questionnaire, interview to collect the data. The samples were taken 200 of Balinese transmigrants who settle in the transmigration area in Sukamaju as homogenous area. 50 others were taken from the Balinese societies who live in Palopo as heterogeneous area. The samples were also taken based on the age groups. The result revealed that attitude put a high position as the influential factor in maintaining the language. It is supported by the Fishman’s theory of language shift and language maintenance, and it is also supported by Crystal’s theory that religion and culture are influential factors in both language shift and language maintenance. I. Background Language and culture are closely related where language is one aspect of culture. Language is used as a tool of communication in doing activities in social life. When it is used in the context of communication, it should be based on and related to cultural context which has varying and more complex ways. Language can not be separated from culture as they are assumed as two sides of a coin. They are different but can’t be separated because of language role that may express cultural and self identity of speakers. Thomas, et. al. (1999:158-159) said that the use of language is one way that is used to establish our identity and shaping of other people’s views of who we are. Language is important in the construction of individual and social identities, it can also be a powerful means of exercising of social control. Likewise, language has its own convention of a certain group which not only relates to the words we use, but also to the way we say them, people can identify ourselves to which social group or community we belong to. What Thomas (1999) stated relates to the fact of Bali society description in transmigration area. Balinese language is mostly speaking by the societies although they live as a minority in the area spoken Balinese surrounded by the societies who speak different languages and have different culture. The basic intention of speaking their mother tongue is simply to show their ethnic identity as Balinese. Phenomena of language maintenance mostly occurs in countries where mostly visited by immigrants who want to start a better life there. Certainly, when one ethnic group moves to a new place, they will become a minority in a new place Since they live side by side with the native it is evitable that they unconsciously adopt language spoken by local people. Consequently, they will become bilinguals in which in one side they still speak their mother tongue and the other side they also speak a new language. Many factors may influence language maintenance in transmigration area, Sukamaju. For example: Age, education, Settlement Area, Mobility, bilingualism, Religion, culture, Attitude, Homogeny, Heterogenic. But in this article, the writer explain only Attitude factor. 1.1 Problem Statement To what extent do attitude factor contribute to the language maintenance of Balinese language in transmigration area Sukamaju North Luwu? 1.2 Aims To find out whether attitude factor contribute the to the language maintenance of Balinese language in the transmigration area Sukamaju North Luwu. II. Literature Reviews 2.1 Previous Studies Soemarsono (1993) in “Pemertahanan Bahasa Melayu Loloan di Bali. The research described how Balinese Moslem society maintained their mother tongue among Bali societies. Lukman (2000) “Pemertahanan Bahasa Warga Transmigrasi Jawa di Wonomulyo-Polmas”. 2.2 Language, Society and Identity It is commonly known that language is a symbol of self-identity of people when they speak a language.