Abstrak Penelitian vitalitas bahasa di dunia, termasuk di Indonesia sudah banyak dilakukan. Namun, di Sulawesi Tengah bahasa-bahasa yang dikaji vitalitasnya masih sebagian kecil. Penelitian ini menelaah permasalahan tentang bagaimanakah status vitalitas bahasa Pamona di Kabupaten Poso? Sejalan dengan itu, kajian ini bertujuan mendeskripsikan status vitalitas bahasa Pamona di Kabupaten Poso. Pengumpulan data menggunakan teknik pengisian kuesioner, pengamatan, perekaman, pencatatan, wawancara mendalam dan terstruktur, serta penelusuran dokumen. Data kuantitatif diolah menggunakan Program Excel dan SPSS. Status vitalitas bahasa ditentukan melalui rerata indeks indikator penutur, kontak bahasa, bilingualisme, posisi dominan masyarakat penutur, ranah penggunaan bahasa, sikap bahasa, regulasi, pembelajaran, dokumentasi, dan tantangan baru dikorelasikan dengan karakteristik responden serta  dikaitkan dengan lima tingkatan vitalitas (rerata indeks 0,00—0,20 berstatus kritis, 0,21—0,40 terancam punah, 0,41—0,61 mengalami kemunduran, 0,61—0,80 rentan, dan 0,81—1,00 aman). Rerata indeks itu dihubungkan dengan rasio penutur, nilai dokumentasi bahasa, dan data kualitatif. Penelitian ini menemukan bahwa nilai indeks terendah terdapat pada indikator kontak bahasa (0,13), regulasi (0,36), dan bilingualisme (0,52), sedangkan nilai indeks tertinggi terdapat pada indikator posisi dominan (0,97) diikuti pembelajaran (0,86), sikap bahasa (0,82), ranah penggunaan bahasa (0,65), dan tantangan baru (0,61). Rerata indeks keseluruhan indikator itu sebesar 0,61. Angka indeks itu menunjukkan bahwa vitalitas bahasa Pamona di Kabupaten Poso berada pada kategori rentan, tetapi mendekati mengalami kemunduran. Hal itu didukung kualitas dan jenis dokumentasi bahasa Pamona. Etnik Pamona mayoritas dwibahasawan. Namun, dalam ranah keluarga, keagamaan, transaksi (jual-beli), dan pendidikan (kelas 1—3 SD) bahasa Pamona masih digunakan.Abstract There are many studies on the vitality of language that have been carried out in the world including in Indonesia. However, the vitality of the languages study in Central Sulawesi is only a few. This research examines the problem of what is the vitality status of the Pamona language in Poso Regency. In line with that, this study aims to describe the vitality status of the Pamona language in Poso Regency. The data collection has been done by using questionnaires filling techniques, observation, recording, note taking, in-depth and structured interviews, and document searches. Quantitative data were processed using Excel and SPSS programs. The vitality status of language is determined by the mean index of indicators for speakers, language contact, bilingualism, dominant position of the speaking community, the realm of language use, language attitudes, regulation, learning, documentation and new challenges which are correlated with the characteristics of respondents and associated with five levels of vitality (mean index 0, 00-0.20 are in critical status, 0.21-0.40 are threatened with extinction, 0.41-0.61 has decreased, 0.61-0.80 are vulnerable, and 0.81-1.00 is safe). The average index was related to the ratio of speakers, the value of language documentation, and qualitative data. This study found that the lowest index value was found in the indicators of language contact (0.13), regulation (0.36), and bilingualism (0.52), while the highest index value was found in the indicator of dominant position (0.97) followed by learning (0.86), language attitudes (0.82), realm of language use (0.65), and new challenges (0.61). The average index for these indicators is 0.61. The index figure shows that the vitality of the Pamona language in Poso Regency is in the vulnerable category, but is approaching the decline category. This is supported by the quality and type of Pamona language documentation. The majority of Pamona ethnicity are bilingual. However, in the realm of family, religion, transaction (buying and selling), and education (grades 1-3 SD) Pamona language is still used.
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