Language, Power, and Development: The Future of The Balik Language in The IKN Region Otto Trengginas Setiawan
Research Centre for Politics, National Research and Innovation Agency (Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional/BRIN)
Abstract
The Balik language faces a critical risk of extinction in East Kalimantan, with a particularly pronounced decline among younger generations in recent years. This endangerment results from shifts in local economies, rising migrant populations, development policies for the new capital (IKN) that frequently exclude indigenous groups, and diminished intergenerational transmission. Collectively, these factors constrain the use of the Balik language in everyday contexts. By integrating perspectives from linguistic ecology, ethnopedagogy, and the political economy of oligarchy and developmentalism, this study conceptualizes language as a fundamental cultural marker of identity for the Balik people, rather than merely a tool for communication. The development of IKN, influenced by prevailing political and economic interests, illustrates how power structures can marginalize local languages and threaten the survival of minority linguistic communities. The article concludes that the context of IKN development often renders indigenous communities socially and politically vulnerable. Based on literature reviews and field findings from 2023 to 2025, the revitalization of the Balik language cannot rely exclusively on documentation. Effective revitalization necessitates the integration of learning models into daily community practices, the use of accessible technologies, and the active involvement of both cultural and political actors as primary knowledge holders.
Keywords: ethnopedagogy- IKN development- indigenous language- marginalization- political economy
