The Role of Language Ambassadors in Banten: Not Just a Title, But a Real Mission to Love Our Local Language

Written By Husna Khofifah Mulyadi 

When I joined the Pemilihan Duta Bahasa (Language Ambassador Selection) in Banten for the first time, I honestly got a bit of a reality check. Before that, I thought being a language ambassador was all about looking good, speaking formal Indonesian properly, and having great public speaking skills. But it turns out, it’s way deeper than that.

Through that experience, I realized how little I actually knew about my own province’s local language. Like, imagine living in your own homeland, but not really understanding the language or culture behind it — it felt like something was missing. That’s when I started to see that a language ambassador isn’t just some cool young figure to show off. They’re actually a bridge that helps introduce, protect, and strengthen our local language identity.

Banten has so much language and cultural richness — from the unique Banten Sundanese dialect to local expressions filled with wisdom passed down through generations. But sadly, so many young people (my old self included) don’t really care or even know much about it.

That’s why the role of a language ambassador matters so much. They’re not just icons — they’re change agents who inspire young people to be proud of their local language, while still upholding Indonesian as our national language. They help promote tolerance, strengthen communication, and spark love for our own culture, especially now when we’re constantly influenced by global cultures.

In my opinion, language ambassadors in Banten (and anywhere, really) need to be supported more. If we want young people to care, the programs have to be creative and fun — like local language workshops, storytelling sessions, creative content competitions in local dialects, or cultural festivals. That way, the love for our local languages won’t just stop at some competition, but will turn into a real movement that brings change.

Some questions to reflect on together:

• Have you ever thought about how well you actually know your local language?

• If it’s not us, the younger generation, who’s gonna preserve these languages?

• How can we keep local languages alive without falling behind in this globalized world?

At the end of the day, I believe language ambassadors have both a big responsibility and an amazing opportunity — to bring back the pride in our local languages. Because honestly, language is part of who we are, and we should never lose that, no matter what.