PEMEROLEHAN BAHASA PADA ANAK BILINGUAL: STUDI KASUS ANAK USIA 10 TAHUN DENGAN LATAR BELAKANG AYAH SUKU NIAS DAN IBU SUKU BATAK TOBA

Abstract

This study aims to describe the language learning process of a 10-year-old bilingual child from a family in which the father is of Nias ethnicity and the mother is of Batak Toba ethnicity. A case study approach was used. Data were collected through interviews with the subject as the primary source of information, as well as observations of the child’s language use in daily life. The findings indicate that the Nias language was the child’s first language due to its predominant use within the family environment, while Indonesian was acquired as a second language through social interaction and formal education. This language development aligns with the stages of language acquisition: the first, second, and third phases. In everyday communication, the child frequently engages in code-mixing, a common phenomenon among bilingual children. Based on the analysis, children’s language abilities are influenced by the level of language use within the family, social context, and education. Learning strategies include imitation, social interaction, speculative language use, and formal education. The study shows that the family and school environments are crucial for developing children’s multilingual abilities, with Nias as the dominant language and Indonesian as the second language developed through formal education.