ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Alhamdulillahirabbilamin. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the universe, the

omnipresent God, for answering my prayers for giving me the strength to plod on

despite my constitution wanting to give up and throw in the towel, finally I

finished the thesis, thank you so much Dear Lord. It is also possible to be finished

without the guidance and the help of several individuals who in one way or

another contributed and extended their valuable assistance in the preparation and

completion of this study.

I would like to express my deep and sincere gratitude to my first adviser,

Prof. Dr. Busmin Gurning, MPd. His wide knowledge and his logical way of

thinking have been of great value for me. His understanding, encouraging and

personal guidance have provided a good basis for the present study.

I am heartily thankful to my second adviser, Dr. Sri Minda Murni, M.S,

whose encouragement, guidance and support from the initial to the final level

enabled me to develop an understanding of the subject to finish my study.

My sincere thanks also goes to the head of English Applied Linguistics,

Prof. Dr. Busmin Gurning, MPd and his secretary Prof. Dr. Lince Sihombing,

MPd, and all lecturers that have given me encouragement and a lot of experience

and knowledge.

I am indebted to my colleagues in LTBI class A1 08; Ahmad Amin

Dalimunthe, SS, M.Hum, Farina Tangkenate, S.Pd., M.Hum., Emi Zahli

Arwulandika, SS., Siti Suhaila Siregar, S.Pd., M.Hum., Mbela Ulinta, S.Pd.,

M.Hum., Yuliana Ningsih, S.Pd., M. Hum., Karisma Erikson, SS., Kristof

i
Telaumbanua, S.Pd., Afifuddin, S.Pd and Elya Minarnis, S.Pd, for the stimulating

discussions, for the exhausted days we were working together before presentation

in the research class, and for all the fun we have had in the last two years.

It is a pleasure to express my gratitude wholeheartedly to all Karonese

families in Kelurahan Kwala Bekala for their kind hospitality during the data

collection of the study.

Lastly, and most importantly, I wish to thank my parents, Surung Muli

Kaban (Late) and K. Br Ginting and also my big family. They bore me, raised me,

supported me, taught me, and loved me. To them I dedicate this thesis.

Finally, I must admit that the content of this study is still far from being

perfect, but I happily accept any constructive ideas and critics that will improve

the quality of the study. Hopefully this study will be useful for those who read it,

especially concerning in English.

Medan, Nopember 2010

The writer,

Susiana Kaban
Registered Number: 82188310004

ii
 ABSTRACT

Kaban, Susiana. Registration Number: 082188310004. Karo Language Shift

in Medan. A Thesis. Postgraduate School, English Applied Linguistics. The
State University of Medan. 2011.

This study deals with Karo Language shift in Medan. It employs

qualitative research design with a single case study to gain an understanding on
this study it is conducted descriptively. This study aims to (1) describe the factors
influence Karo language shift, (2) the pattern of the language shift and (3) the
reason of the Karonese shift into Indonesian Language. The subjects were 10
Karonese families in Kelurahan Kwala Bekala, Medan Johor District that consist
of 10 parents and 14 children. They were divided into two groups; second
generation (parents) and third generation (children). The instrument used for this
study were questionnaire and interview. The first data collection involved a set
questionnaire, which examined factors influence Karo language shift, and
language use in five domains in order to describe the pattern of Karo language
shift. The second data collection involved a set interview about value on Karo
language shift, language use and the reason of shifting into Indonesian language.
The data were analyzed by Miles and Hubermans data analysis. There are seven
factors influence Karo language shift in the second and third generation namely;
bilingualism, migration, economic factor, social factors, political factors,
demographic factors, value and attitude. Analysis of data clearly indicates that
Karo language shift is done among the second and third generation of Karonese in
Medan especially in the intercultural marriage family. The status of Indonesian
language and social success are the reason of Karonese into Indonesian language.

Key words: Karonese, Karo Language, shift

iii
 ABSTRAK

Penelitian ini merupakan kajian tentang Pergeseran Bahasa Karo pada

masyarakat penutur Bahasa Karo di Medan. Desain penelitian yang digunakan
dalam penelitian ini adalah metode penelitian kualitatif dengan studi kasus, yang
mengkaji pemahaman tentang pergeseran bahasa Karo secara deskriptif. Tujuan
penelitian ini adalah (1) untuk mendeskripsikan faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi
pergeseran bahasa Karo, (2) untuk menggambarkan pola pergeseran bahasa Karo
dan (3) untuk mengetahui alasan penutur bahasa Karo beralih ke bahasa Indonesia
dalam berkomunikasi. Subjek penelitian ini adalah sepuluh keluarga penutur
bahasa Karo yang tinggal di Kelurahan Kwala Bekala, Kecamatan Medan Johor
yang di bagi menjadi dua kelompok yaitu 10 orang dalam kelompok orang tua dan
10 orang dalam kelompok anak. Penelitian ini menggunakan instrumen berupa
kuesioner dan interview. Tahapan pengumpulan data yang pertama berupa
pengisian kuesioner yang berkaitan dengan data mengenai faktor-faktor yang
mempengaruhi pergeseran bahasa karo dan pilihan penggunaan bahasa dalam lima
ranah untuk memperoleh gambaran bagaimana pola pergeseran bahasa Karo.
Tahapan pengumpulan data yang kedua berupa rangkaian interview mengenai
nilai dan sikap terhadap Bahasa Karo dan alasan mengapa memilih Bahasa
Indonesia menggantikan Bahasa Karo dalam berkomunikasi. Data mengenai
faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi pergeseran bahasa dan alasan pergeseran ke
bahasa Indonesia di analisis berdasarkan analisis data Miles and Huberman
sedangkan data mengenai pilihan penggunaan bahasa di analisis berdasarkan
analsis data domain menurut Spradley. Secara umum penelitian ini
mengindikasikan ada delapan faktor yang mempengaruhi pergeseran bahasa karo
pada generasi kedua dan ketiga yaitu faktor kedwibahasaan, migrasi, faktor
ekonomi, faktor sosial, faktor politik, faktor demograpik, nilai dan sikap dan
kurangnya kemampuan berbicara dalam bahasa Karo. Dari hasil analisis data juga
menunjukan bahwa pergeseran bahasa Karo terjadi pada generasi pertama dan
kedua pada masyrakat penutur bahasa Karo di Medan terutama pada keluarga
yang mengalami perkawinan antar suku. Ada dua alasan mereka memilih bahasa
Karo untuk menggantikan Bahasa Karo dalam berkomunikasi yang pertama
adalah karena status atau kedudukan bahasa Indonesia sebagai bahasa nasional
dan bahasa persatuan dan yang kedua adalah agar mudah bersosialisasi dalam
masyarakat yang majemuk.

iv
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

ACKNOWLEDGMENT........................................................................ i
ABSTRACT.......................................................................................... iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS........................................................................ iv
LIST OF TABLES.................................................................................. vii
LIST OF APPENDICES......................................................................... viii

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION
1.1 The Background of The Study.............................. 1
1.2 The Focus of The Study......................................... 5
1.3 The Objectives of The Study................................. 5
1.4 The Significance of The Study.............................. 5
1.5 The Scope of The Study......................................... 6

CHAPTER II: REVIEW OF LITERATURE

2.1 Language Shift........................................................ 7
2.1.1 Dimension in Language Shift Study.......... 10
2.1.2 Factors Influence Language Shift............... 11
2.1.3.1 Bilingualism...................................... 11
2.1.3.2 Migration.......................................... 13
2.1.3.3 Economic and Social Factors.......... 14
2.1.3.4 Political Factors................................ 16
2.1.3.5 Demographic Factors..................... 17
2.1.3.6 Attitudes and Values...................... 19
2.1.3 The Pattern Of Language Shift.................. 21
2.1.4 The Effect of Language Shift...................... 24
2.2 Reason for Language Shift.................................... 25
2.3 Karonese and Karo Language............................... 27
2.4 Theoritical Framework.......................................... 28

CHAPTER III: METHOD OF RESEARCH

v
 3.1 The Research Design.............................................. 31
3.2 The Subject of The Study....................................... 31
3.3 The Instrument of The Research........................... 32
3.4 The Technique of Data Collection......................... 33
3.5 The Technique of Data Analysis............................ 34
3.6 Triangulation............................................................ 35

CHAPTER IV : DATA ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS

4.1 The Data and data Analyis................................... 36
4.1.1 Factors Influenced Karo Language Shift..... 36
4.1.1.1 Bilingualism...................................... 11
4.1.1.2 Migration.......................................... 13
4.1.1.3 Economic Factor.............................. 14
4.1.1.4 Social Factor....................................
4.1.1.5 Political Factor................................. 16
4.1.1.6 Demographic Factors..................... 17
4.1.1.7 Attitudes and Values...................... 19
4.1.1.8 Karo Language Competence..........
4.1.2 The Pattern of Karo Language Shift............. 54
4.1.3 The Reason of Karonese Shift into
Indonesian Language.................................. 59
4.3 Findings.................................................................... 63
4.4 Discussion................................................................ 64
4.4.1 Factors Influenced Karo Language Shift..... 64
4.4.2 The Pattern of Karo Language Shift............ 69
4.4.3 The Reason of Karonese Shift into
Indonesian Language.................................. 72

CHAPTER V : CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

5.1 Conclusions.............................................................. 73
5.2 Suggestions.............................................................. 74

vi
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................
75

LIST OF TABLES

Page

Table 2.1 Domain of Language Use................................................... 23

Table 4.1.1.1 Bilingualism of Karonese in Medan................................... 37
Table 4.1.1.2 Migration of Karonese in Medan....................................... 40
Table 4.1.1.3 Economic Factor that influence Karo Language Shift
in Medan............................................................................. ...........
41
Table 4.1.1.4 Social Factor in Karonese society in Medan..................... 43
Table 4.1.1.5 The Influence of Political Factor in Karo Language Shift
in Medan.............................................................................. 45
Table 4.1.1.6 The Influence of Demographic Factor in Karo Language
Shift in Medan..............................................................................
47
Table 4.1.1.7 The Influence of Value and Attitude in Karo Language
Shift in Medan...................................................................... 49
Table 4.1.1.8 Shift into Indonesian Language because of Lack of Karo
Language Competence....................................................... 52
Table 4.1.1.9 Language Use of Karonese in Medan.............................. 54
Table 4.1.1.10The Karo Language Competence of the Second
Generation of Karonese Family in Medan........................57
Table 4.1.1.11The Karo Language Competence of the Third Generation

vii
 of Karonese Family in Medan........................................... 57
Table 4.1.1.12Reason of Second Generation of Karonese Shift
into Indonesian Language.................................................. 59
Table 4.1.1.13Reason of Third Generation of Karonese Shift
into Indonesian Language.................................................. 60

LIST OF APPENDICES

Page

Appendix 1 : Research Instrument 1........................................................ 77

Appendix 2 : The Map of Medan City and The Location of The Research........ 8
Appendix 3 : Subjects Response.................................................................. 83

viii