THE VISIBILITY OF BETAWI LANGUAGE IN THE VIRTUAL LINGUISTIC LANDSCAPE: A STUDY ON TIKTOK

Abstract

This study examines the visibility of the Betawi language within TikTok’s virtual linguistic landscape and its role in representing cultural identity. As a multimodal communication platform, TikTok enables the presence of Betawi in digital spaces through various linguistic and audiovisual elements. This study employs a descriptive qualitative approach using the virtual linguistic landscape as an analytical perspective. The data comprise TikTok content featuring Betawi, including on-screen text, captions, hashtags, and other linguistic elements. Visual and audio features are also examined, considering TikTok’s combination of text, images, speech, music, and sound. Data were collected through digital observation and documentation and analyzed using qualitative content analysis to identify the forms, functions, and contexts of Betawi language visibility. The findings reveal that Betawi appears in Sofwan Amin’s TikTok content through speech transcriptions displayed as on-screen text, captions, and hashtags, either independently or alongside other languages. Within the virtual linguistic landscape, Betawi serves an informative function by conveying information about the Betawi community and a symbolic function by representing local identity. These findings suggest that TikTok provides a digital space for the visibility and representation of Betawi in contemporary communicative practices.