Bahasa must coexist with other languages

Bahasa must coexist with other languages

JAKARTA (JP): The national language, Bahasa Indonesia, must
grow peacefully alongside other languages, a noted linguist said
yesterday amidst concerns with the intrusion of foreign languages
and the slow disappearance of some local dialects.

"We need some sort of guidance for this peaceful
coexistence ... We need to have signals on how we can provide
space for the growth of Bahasa Indonesia, local dialects and
foreign languages," Anton Moeljono said during a hearing at the
House of Representatives.

He dismissed the notion that the yearning to master foreign
languages, particularly English, will come at the expense of
Bahasa Indonesia.

People should be able to use proper Bahasa Indonesia and
master foreign languages at the same time, he added.

Anton and other members of the Society for the Promotion of
Bahasa Indonesia yesterday held a hearing with the House's
commission IX which deals with education and culture.

Although the theme is certainly topical -- the government is
currently campaigning for the proper and correct use of Bahasa
Indonesia -- the hearing drew only 17 legislators.

"Local dialects within families and in various customary and
religious activities should be maintained, but Bahasa Indonesia
should be used properly in formal forums, and in relation to
science and knowledge, trade and industry," Anton said.

Guidelines are needed to clarify the function of the national
language in line with the country's "material" progress. So far
Bahasa Indonesia only has a high political nuance to it, he said.

The Indonesian language has so far been used like the Javanese
traditional dagger, the kris. "The Javanese take pride in the
kris which is a symbol of manhood, but they do not use it.
Likewise, we are proud of our language but we have neglected its
development as a means of expression and analysis."

The Society's general secretary Dendy Sugono suggested a
combination of persuasion and force in compelling people to use
proper Bahasa Indonesia.

The regulation by Jakarta Governor Surjadi Soedirdja
compelling real estate developers to use Indonesian names is one
example of force, he said. "But we also try to persuade people to
develop the need for the use of proper Bahasa Indonesia, so they
will not use it out of coercion," Dendy said.

Anton said the poor use of Indonesian necessitates "an
overhaul" of language teaching at schools. "There must be
something wrong because students have learned it for 12 years at
school."

In response to the daily usage of old Javanese words,
originating from Sanskrit, Anton said, "Like the absorption of
other languages adopted centuries ago, is not a problem as long
as they are communicative."

In studying foreign languages, Anton suggested studying
Chinese and Japanese over English and other Western European
languages. "A large part of our investment comes from Japan, Hong
Kong and China, so we should master their languages." (anr)