Colonial Cultural Acculturation and the Existence of Foreign Language Absorption: Sociolinguistic Review of Current Ternate Community Communication

Abstract

This article discusses the absorption of words from foreign languages during the colonial period in Ternate society that have survived until today. The interaction of Ternate society with trading nations, colonialists, and religious disseminators (Islam, Protestant, and Catholic) shows cultural acculturation in the aspect of language. The interaction of Ternate society with foreign nations since the 15th century has created cultural acculturation. This influences the language, history, and culture of Ternate society, traces of which can be found until today. A sociolinguistic approach can reveal the past socio-cultural life of Ternate society through communication in today's society. Various foreign loanwords into Ternate language include aspects of numbers, days, colors, sizes, equipment, activities, food, clothing, animals, plants, social status, furniture, natural objects, kinship, folk games, art, and others. These loanwords are actively used in everyday communication and have become part of the cultural identity of Ternate society.