Voices of Manggarai: A Sociolinguistic Exploration of Dialectal Variations

Abstract

Abstract

This article examines the dialect variations of the Manggarai language spoken in West Manggarai, Central Manggarai, and East Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. Using a sociolinguistic approach and a qualitative descriptive method, the study aims to identify the forms of dialect variations and to describe their functions in everyday communication. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with three informants representing each region. The findings reveal four main types of dialect variation: regional (geographic) dialects, social (sociolect) dialects, temporal dialects, and mixed (geosocial) dialects. Regional variations are reflected in differences in vocabulary and pronunciation of greetings, verbs, nouns, adjectives, and adverbs. Social dialects arise from differences in age, education, and social status, while temporal dialects illustrate generational vocabulary shifts. Mixed dialects appear due to interactions between speakers of different regional and social backgrounds. Furthermore, the study identifies four communicative functions of these dialects: interactional, personal, representational, and heuristic. These functions demonstrate that language variation serves not only as a tool for communication but also as a means of reinforcing identity, expressing emotions, conveying information, and acquiring new knowledge. The results contribute to sociolinguistic studies of Indonesian regional languages and highlight the importance of dialect documentation for cultural preservation and language education.

Keywords: Dialect, language variation, sociolinguistics