PEMERTAHANAN BAHASA IBU DI KALANGAN MAHASISWA: MOTIVASI, TANTANGAN, DAN STRATEGI

Abstract

This study seeks to examine the issue of mother tongue maintenance among fifth-semester students of the English Education Study Program at Universitas Katolik Santo Thomas Medan. The mother tongue is widely recognized as a fundamental component of cultural identity, a sense of belonging, and emotional attachment; therefore, its sustainability remains a critical concern within higher education contexts. In academic environments where English functions as the dominant medium of instruction, students frequently encounter situations that require continuous negotiation in their use of the mother tongue, particularly in relation to academic expectations, national language ideologies, and perceptions of linguistic prestige. Consequently, this study focuses on the motivations, challenges, and psychosocial dynamics that shape students’ practices and attitudes toward mother tongue use. Employing a descriptive qualitative research design, data were collected through semi-structured interviews and reflective writing in order to obtain an in-depth understanding of students’ lived experiences. The findings are expected to reveal that the motivation to maintain the mother tongue is influenced by several interrelated factors, including cultural affiliation, familial support, emotional security, and the need to construct and affirm social identity. Conversely, the gradual decline in mother tongue use in everyday communication, the dominance of English in academic learning processes, and the habitual use of foreign languages are identified as major challenges to language maintenance. Nevertheless, despite these constraints, efforts to sustain the mother tongue continue to manifest through its use in daily interactions, participation in cultural practices, and engagement with community-based digital media. Overall, this study appears to contribute to a deeper understanding of how the mother tongue is negotiated and sustained within a multilingual higher education environment.
Keywords: language maintenance, mother tongue, university students