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.