Vitality of Moi Language: A Case Study of Moi Tribes in Southwest Papua, Indonesia

This study aims to explore the language preference of Moi tribe within family settings. It ultimately seeks to evaluate how these language choices affect the preservation of the Moi language in the multilingual environment of Southwest Papua. The research involves 300 participants, categorized by gender and age. Data were gathered through semi-structured interview questionnaires and observations. The results indicate that Indonesian is primarily used in family interactions. While the participants often engage in code-switching, the findings reveal that younger generations tend to be passive speakers of the Moi language, with some lacking even a basic comprehension of their mother tongue. Factors such as social context, peer relationships, and motivation play a significant role in shaping the language choices of the participants. Furthermore, the study indicates a clear shift from the Moi language to Indonesian in the linguistic practices of the participants.