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)