Helong Language in West Kupang District, Kupang Regency

— Research on language shift related to social factor is included in sociolinguistic research. This study is to examine the phenomenon of Helong language (HL) shift in the District of West Kupang, Kupang Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province. HL shift is a product of language contact and language competition which is characterized by the use of HL by its speakers that is getting lower and switch to another more prestigious one. Therefore, the phenomenon of HL shift was analyzed based on the choice of HL language use in a domain that implies HL maintenance by its speakers among generations. In order to get the expected data, this study involved 100 respondents consisting groups of 40 parents, 29 adults, and 31 children. The data obtained through data collection techniques were analyzed by using quantitative and qualitative methods. It was conducted based on the attitude of language in the dimensions of language loyalty, language pride, and awareness of language norms in the domains of family, education, customs, neighborhood, government, and religion referring to the level of HL maintenance. The results showed that the phenomenon of HL shift in the District of West Kupang, Kupang Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province reflected reducing number of intergenerational Helong native speakers in using their own language. The presence of Indonesian language (IL) intervening the use of language in the domains of education, government, and religion influencing the use of languages in the domains of family and neighborhood. Thus, HL is shifting towards death in the next generations.

This study uses sociolinguistic approach referring to linguistic subject in a social context with the targeted study regarding behavior of speech community group. The study used quantitative and qualitative methods by applying phenomenological framework as its philosophical foundation. In accordance with its appropriate philosophical framework approach, the study was based on factual data found and presented in accordance with reality found when it was conducted (Muhadjir, 1995).
In order to get the expected data, the research involved 100 respondents consisting of 31 children, 29 adults, and 40 parents. The data were obtained through methods of observation, questionnaire, interview, focus group discussions, record, and documentation. To determine the level of language maintenance leading to HL shift and death, the analysis was conducted based on variables of attitudes in dimensions of language loyalty, language pride, and awareness on language norms in the domains of family, education, custom, neighborhood, government, and religion.

Results
The results of study showing the phenomenon of HL shift and death were obtained by the analysis of language choice and use in the domains of family, education, custom, neighborhood, government, and religion as follows.   Table 4.1 illustrates that the language choice and use of HL for interaction between the speakers of the adult group and interlocutors of grandparents is still dominant (62,07 %).

Family Domain
On the other hand, the use of HL for communicative interaction between speakers of adult group and interlocutors of parents group, siblings, and other tenants is shifting that is marked by the speakers who switch to IL in percentage between 55,17 % and 75,86 %. The use of DL and RL disappears (0 %) to describe that HL speakers still survive their language in competition among local languages (see Eastman, 1983: 32, 142;Grosjean, 1982). The language situation indicates a reduced number of speakers of adults and children groups of Helong speech communicative to use and switch to IL considered more prestigious one. Data table 4.2 shows the reducing amount of Helong children native speakers when compared with the amount of adult native speakers as shown in the percentages as follows. Language situation as the result of transferring language from one generation to the next generation appearing in the table shows that the use HL in the domain of family is shifting. That is, older native speakers still use their language but the amount of native speakers using HL reduces from generation to generation. Thus, HL will be possible to die in the future.

Domain of Religion
Christian is the majority of Helong community members in West Kupang District, Kupang Regency. It has an important role in social life of the community. In religious activities, IL is the only language used in the region influencing HL situation. Therefore, the analysis referred to the opinion stated out by members of the community in the statements of strongly disagree, disagree, just agree-never mind, and abstain if HL is used in the domain. The statements determine behavior of Helong speakers to their own language in the dimension of language loyalty, language pride, and the awareness of language norms based on the language choice and use in appropriate domains.  Table 4.8 describes positive behavior of Helong parents to their language 55 % (strongly disagree 7,50 % and disagree 47,50 %), and negative attitudes to their language 40 % (just agree, never mind). HL situation in the parents group showed that HL is shifting.  Table 4.10 describes positive behavior of HL children speakers to their language only 12,90 % (just agree, never mind) and negative attitudes to their language 87,10 %. Language situation of HL in children group also showed that HL is shifting.

Domain of Custom
In  Page: 120-129 128 their language well. Nevertheless, Helong customary ritual speech can only be performed by some indigenous leaders implies that such ability only possessed by several older speakers, and then it is possible that HL in the domain will be shifting in the future. The statement was logically since most domains show HL has been shifted by IL.

Conclusion
Language contact involving IL and other local languages that implies language competition makes HL situation instable. It shows linguistic phenomena in which Helong native speakers inconsistently use HL in most domains. Inconsistency of HL use indicates weakness of language maintenance and negative attitudes of young generation of Helong speech community to their own language. Therefore, the unbalanced language choice and use tend to shift HL because the young generation of Helong switch to IL which is considered more prestigious than HL to interact socially in most domains of language use.

The intervention of IL used dominantly hinders HL maintenance and development among
Helong younger generation. The results of the study show phenomenon of HL shift towards its death which is characterized by a reduce in the number of Helong native speakers from generation to generation using their own language in the domains of family and neighborhood as follows.