Nasal in Indonesia

Introduction / History

The Nasal speak the Nasal language, an Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian) language of southwestern Sumatra spoken in the Nasal River area of Bengkulu Province (villages such as Tanjung Betuah, Gedung Menung and Tanjung Baru). Linguists have described Nasal as a small, somewhat isolated Sumatran variety and have noted it as endangered or vulnerable in its domain of use. Early sociolinguistic surveys and a SIL field report give the best available description of the language and its local distribution.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Most Nasal people live in small riverine and upland villages in southern Bengkulu (south-west Sumatra) where livelihoods are based on mixed wet-rice and shifting cultivation, fishing, small-scale gardening and local trade with neighboring Malayic communities. Interactions with neighboring groups (Lampung and Malay-speaking communities) have brought loanwords and cultural influence, and many Nasal people are also bilingual in Indonesian or regional Malay varieties. Population estimates vary by source, with earlier surveys reporting a few thousand ethnic Nasal speakers, though community size and language use patterns show pressures from larger surrounding groups.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Islam is the predominant religion among the Nasal, and most community members identify as Muslim in available survey data. Traditional cultural practices and local customs may still shape daily life and local ritual alongside formally identified Islam, but there is little public evidence of a significant Christian presence among the Nasal.

What Are Their Needs?

They need a sustainable approach to language maintenance and intergenerational transmission so that younger Nasal speakers can learn and use the language in daily life and schooling.
Nasals have substandard educational opportunities; literacy is low in both Indonesian and Nasal. They must leave their homeland to get secondary education.
They also need culturally appropriate healthcare and infrastructure development that improve wellbeing while respecting local livelihoods and environmental traditions.

Prayer Points

Pray for gospel openness among the Nasal people, that hearts shaped by local culture and Islam would be receptive to the good news of Jesus as their only hope.
Pray for language workers and translators to be raised up who can develop Scripture and discipleship materials in Nasal so the Bible can be heard in the Nasal heart language.
Pray for teachers and educational resources to reach Nasal villages so children can learn to read both Indonesian and Nasal, increasing future opportunities for the community.
Pray for wise, respectful partnerships between neighboring churches, NGOs and the Nasal community that prioritize cultural integrity, sustainable livelihoods, and holistic wellbeing.

Text Source:   Joshua Project