The Use of the Jongkong Malay Dialect in Indonesian Literary Literacy Practices: A Case Study at SMAN 1 Jongkong

Abstract

This study examines the use of the Jongkong Malay dialect in Indonesian literary literacy practices among students of Class X Merdeka 3 at SMAN 1 Jongkong. The study employed a qualitative case-study approach involving 25 students and one Indonesian language teacher as a supporting informant. Data were collected through classroom observation, interviews, and documentation during May 2026, with the analysis focusing on reading and writing activities involving literary texts. The findings document four descriptive categories of linguistic forms: regional vocabulary, local vocabulary, sentence-structure patterns, and non-standard written forms. Examples identified in the research materials include abis, trus, karna, and menggayongkan. However, the occurrence of a non-standard form does not automatically establish that the form is a specific feature of the Jongkong Malay dialect. Therefore, the revised analysis distinguishes Jongkong-related forms from general non-standard Indonesian, spelling variation, and possible language-contact phenomena. The study contributes a more cautious description of local linguistic practices in Indonesian literacy activities and suggests that contrastive language instruction can help students develop competence in standard Indonesian while maintaining awareness of their regional linguistic resources.