Muara Wahau, June 12, 2026 — The Regional language Center in East Kalimantan conducted fieldwork for the Language and Literary Diversity Map of East Kalimantan Province. The data collection took place in Nehas Liah Bing Village, Muara Wahau, East Kutai, from June 8 to 12, 2026. The field team comprised Nurul Masfufah and Suindah Sari from the language division, alongside Yudianti Herawati, Aquari Mustikawati, and Dwi Hariyanto from the literature division.
The Secretary of Nehas Liah Bing Village, Ribut T. Warsono, warmly welcomed the initiative. He assisted the team by recommending suitable informants and facilitating the interview locations. Warsono emphasized that this documentation and mapping initiative is crucial for preserving ancestral heritage, ensuring that future generations can learn about and maintain their cultural roots. He also expressed hope that the collected Wehea language and literature data would eventually lead to the publication of books, as current resources are very limited. “Hopefully, the documentation and publication of Wehea language and literature can be successfully realized to aid in its preservation,” he added.
The language and literature teams conducted their data collection at the Nehas Liah Bing Village Office in a conducive environment. They interviewed several informants, all of whom are native Wehea speakers and active participants in traditional Wehea cultural activities. The informants included Johan Wilsong, Hendrikus Heangday, Beang Abu, Pelisita Selia Bit, and Sabinus Yatim. Prior to the fieldwork, the team had thoroughly prepared their research instruments for both linguistic and literary assessments.
This activity yielded a comprehensive collection of linguistic data, including basic Swadesh vocabulary, fundamental cultural vocabulary, phrases, and simple sentences. Additionally, it produced literary data in the form of documented oral literature gathered directly from these primary sources. (nm)
Translated by Muhammmad Erwin Darma