Technology and minority language: an Android-based dictionary development for the Lampung language maintenance in Indonesia

Abstract

Although a considerable amount of research on the Lampung language has been done, little attention has been paid to the use of technology-based Lampung language maintenance. Therefore, academic and practical efforts should be made to contribute to the local language maintenance and one of the possible solutions is through technology. The aim of the present study was to develop an Android-based bilingual dictionary application for smartphones for language maintenance. This study adopted developmental research with three phases (analysis, product design and development, and product try-out and evaluation). The data was collected through instruments including literature reviews, interviews, expert judgments, and questionnaires followed by descriptive analyses. The results indicate that the development of an Android-based Lampung language dictionary application for smartphones has successfully contributed to Lampung language maintenance and preservation. The Android-based application is positively perceived as a form of minority language maintenance and preservation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) era. The study’s implications and recommendations are also discussed for future research.