Kampar language

The Kampar language (Kampar: Bahaso Kampau, Jawi: بهاسو كمڤاو), locally known as Ocu (Kampar: Bahaso Ocu) is a Malayic language spoken mainly by the Kampar people, that resides in Kampar Regency, Riau, Indonesia. The linguistic classification of the Kampar language remains a topic of debate, as it is sometimes regarded as a dialect of either Riau Malay or Minangkabau. The Agency for Language Development and Cultivation under Indonesia's Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education officially categorizes Kampar as a Minangkabau dialect spoken in Riau. Similarly, the Minangkabau community considers the Kampar language to be a variant of Minangkabau due to its resemblance to the Limapuluh Kota dialect. However, this perspective is challenged by the Kampar community, where the majority assert that Kampar is a dialect of Riau Malay, distinct from Minangkabau.

In Kampar, like other regional languages in Indonesia, the Kampar language is primarily used for informal communication, with its formal usage mostly limited to traditional ceremonies and customary events. It is also influenced by other languages, particularly Indonesian, the national language, which is predominantly used in formal settings such as government institutions and schools. In addition, the influence of standard Minangkabau complicates the distinction between Kampar and the Minangkabau variety spoken in West Sumatra. For example, ompek in Kampar and ampek in Minangkabau both mean ‘four.’ Similarly, words such as inyo ‘he/she’, apo ‘what’, and tigo ‘three are shared by both languages with identical meanings. Most people in Kampar are bilingual in both Kampar and Indonesian, frequently engaging in code-switching and code-mixing between the two languages. The Kampar language is increasingly threatened by the growing use of Indonesian, leading to the gradual replacement of traditional Kampar vocabulary with Indonesian equivalents.