THE LI NIHA MAINTENANCE AMONG TEENAGERS OF ORAHUA MAHASISWA NIAS (OMN) MEDAN IN KELURAHAN LAUCI MEDAN TUNTUNGAN

This study explained the Li Niha Maintenance among Teenagers of Orahua Mahasiswa Nias (OMN) Medan in Kelurahan Lauci Medan Tuntungan. The objectives of this study were (1) to investigate what maintenance of Li Niha is preserved by the Nias teenagers of OMN Medan (2) to describe how is the Li Niha maintained by the Nias teenagers of OMN Medan (3) to explain the reason why is the Li Niha maintained by the Nias teenagers of OMN Medan. This study applied phenomenological design as a part of qualitative research design. Data were words or utterances of 20 persons teenager of OMN Medan collected through observation and interview techniques. The data were analyzed by using Bogdan & Biklen, (1992). The findings of this study showed that: (1) four types of Li Niha maintenance preserved by the teenagers of OMN Medan namely strong, dominant, moderate and weak maintenance; (2) four ways of Li Niha maintained by Nias teenagers of OMN Medan, were (a) consistently used full of Li Niha although their partner spoke Indonesian language to them, (b) using Li Niha dominantly (c) mixing Li Niha with Indonesian language (d) and using Indonesian language dominantly; and (3) five reasons the teenagers of Orahua Mahasiswa Nias (OMN) Medan in Kelurahan Lauci Medan Tuntungan maintain Li Niha because; (a) it’s their heritage language, (b) to show that they are not arrogant to Nias people, (c) to show the closeness with Nias people, (d) to show their identity, and (e) in order that he/she can talk to Nias people (oldest people) who cannot speak in Indonesian.