PEMERTAHANAN BAHASA BALI DALAM WIKITHON PARTISIPASI PUBLIK: PENDEKATAN SOSIOLINGUISTIK

Abstract

This study aims to examine the Public Participation Wikithon (Wiki Marathon) program as a space for youth engagement in voicing public issues through the use of regional languages, as an effort to preserve the Balinese language in the era of modernization. The research employs a sociolinguistic approach, which perceives language not merely as a linguistic system but as a social practice involved in the processes of participation, identity formation, and meaning-making in the public sphere. This qualitative research utilizes a descriptive-analytic method, gathering data through the documentation of participants' Wikithon works. Data analysis was conducted by analyzing the forms and meanings of the Balinese language within the context of youth participation in the digital space. The findings indicate that the Public Participation Wikithon serves as a participatory medium that encourages youth to use their mother tongue creatively and reflectively in responding to public concerns. The use of the Balinese language functions not only as a tool for communication but also as a symbol of identity, a strategy for public engagement, and an effort toward language maintenance amidst modernization and the dominance of global languages. This study asserts that public participation practices based on Balinese language hold significant potential in sustaining the linguistic and cultural awareness of the younger generation.

Keywords: sociolinguistics, public participation wikithon, local language, youth.