PROMOTING THE SASAK LANGUAGE LEXICON AS LOCAL CONTENT TO CHILDREN THROUGH BASIC LITERACY ENHANCEMENT AT TAMAN BACA MASYARAKAT (TBM) IN CENTRAL LOMBOK

Abstract

The overwhelming development of technology makes everything unlimited. The impact of these
developments is evident in the field of language. Children are getting away from their identity, they are
reluctant to use their mother tongue. Therefore, efforts to rebuild interest in learning the mother tongue
need to be introduced by strengthening basic literacy. We wish the community of Taman Baca
Masyarakat (TBM) in Lombok is committed to encourage the children to use the mother tongue as early
as possible. Not many Sasak vocabulary is understood nor used by children in their interaction. The
authors consider this a fundamental thing that will become a problem in the future, related to the
existence of the Sasak language. Thus, an appropriate solution is needed to improve the children’s
abilities and attitudes toward their mother tongue by introducing them to their language and culture (local
wisdom) through strengthening basic literacy in community reading grounds (TBM). The method used in
this study is experimental using picture media, and oral. Techniques used by researchers in this study are
tests, and oral question and answer. The aim of the test is to measure children's understanding of their
own language both written and oral through the pictures presented. While question and answer are
intended to measure attitudes and confirm their test results. By introducing language and local wisdom to
them through basic literacy, it is hoped that it will be able to make a significant contribution to future
prospective young generations to preserve the Sasak language. Thus, they will not lose their identity and
identity as Sasak people.