Indonesian vs English

Indonesian vs English

The government's main argument for television networks and
cinema operators to dub all their foreign programs into
Indonesian is very compelling: We have to develop Bahasa
Indonesia into a language equal to all the other major languages
in the world. If France, Germany, Spain, Japan, China, and even
Thailand have managed to dub their Hollywood-imported programs
into their respective languages, there is no reason why Indonesia
cannot do the same. After all, Bahasa Indonesia is the lingua
franca of around 200 million people.

After some initial confusion, it is now clear that all
programs in English -- which dominate our television and movie
houses -- are not exempted, as some people originally thought.
This motion has been put forth despite a provision in the Bill on
Broadcasting now being debated in the House of Representatives
which allows for some English programs to be broadcast in their
original language.

Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro, who
asked that all television networks and cinema operators comply
with the appeal before Independence Day on Aug. 17, argues that
the practice of dubbing foreign programs into Indonesian, if done
in the correct way, will be good for the language. The practice,
he said, will lead to the development of new popular terms and
expressions, and therefore the enrichment of the language. In
short, he said, the practice will help strengthen the
intellectual level of the Indonesian people. The bill rightly
recognizes the broadcasting media, particularly television and
radio, as tools for education.

There is also another strong reason why television and movie
operators should make the move: Marketing. At most, only 10
percent of all Indonesians understand English. It makes sense
therefore that in this era of competition for ratings, they wish
to strive for as large an audience as possible.

The various counterarguments presented by some objectors pale
by comparison. The one exception perhaps is the argument that
English programs should be exempted because they have been
helpful in teaching the most spoken language in the world to
Indonesians. They rightly point out that the mastery of English
among Indonesians is appalling. With the globalization process,
Indonesians must master the language of the international
business community and the scientific world.

But if we have to pit the need to develop Bahasa Indonesia
against the need to master English, there is no doubt that the
first has to prevail.

While we would like to endorse the government's call to dub
all television and movie programs into Indonesian, we feel that
the four months given is hardly sufficient for the operators
concerned. Although it is just an appeal and not a regulation --
therefore not entailing any punishment -- the reactions we have
seen so far indicate that everyone must comply.

Asking them to comply within the deadline could be
counterproductive if they are not thoroughly prepared. There is a
shortage of skilled personnel to translate and dub the programs.
The various Latin telenovela, Indian dramas, Mandarin action
films and Japanese cartoons contain many grave flaws in the way
they have been translated and dubbed. And they have been dubbed
into poor Indonesian, hardly a compliment to the on-going
official campaign for people to use good and correct Indonesian.

We also feel that the appeal should not be applied to all
programs. Some programs specifically intended for the more elite
community in the country, for example, could be broadcast in
their English version so that they do not lose the nuances.

In the final analysis, rather than setting a specific
deadline, the government should simply let the television
networks and cinema operators work at their own pace, which will
be dictated not only by their ability to recruit and train
dubbers, but also by the market forces.