Role of language may be overstated

Role of language may be overstated

JAKARTA (JP): The role of the Indonesian language in unifying
the nation may have been overstated, a political scientist said
yesterday.

Dede Oetomo, a staff lecturer at Airlangga University in
Surabaya, told a seminar that Bahasa Indonesia should not be
considered the main catalyst in unifying the state, but rather
one "agent" in the unifying process.

Without scoffing at the importance of Indonesian, Dede argued
that it was used only as the medium for discourse on unity.
"Viewing it with the clear head of a linguist, the discourse
could have actually been implemented in another language."

The discourse expounded was one of solidarity, egalitarianism
and camaraderie, Dede said. "Maybe what is more important is the
kind of discourse used which could invoke people to rise up
against the oppressors."

In his presentation at a seminar on "Indonesia 2020, the
Economic, Social-Cultural and Political Scope," Dede said the use
of Bahasa Indonesia as a state language was a natural development
since it had been widely used as an intermediary language by all
ethnic groups.

He pointed out that up to the end of the 19th century, the
Dutch colonial rulers strictly maintained control of their
language and, therefore, Melayu, the root of Indonesian, became
the common language of the indigenous people.

The Indonesian language received a boost in 1928 when the
country's youth met in Jakarta and proclaimed a mutual nationhood
and language. The role of Indonesian in the country is thus
exalted as a language of unity.

Though careful not to deny the significance of the national
language in the early nationalist movement, Dede questioned the
simplistic slogan of it being an unifying language.

He questioned such a billing since Bahasa is widely used by
both nationalists and separatist movements throughout the
country.

"We also have to realize that separatists trying to break
themselves from the unitary Republic of Indonesia, not in East
Timor, but those such as the Free Aceh Movement or the
Organization of Free Papua, all used the Melayu language or what
they even call Bahasa Indonesia," he said.

Because of this, Dede asserted the need to more clearly define
the meaning of a unifying language.

"It can't be taken for granted," he insisted.

A sense of nationalism should not be weighed by language
alone, but by the spirit contained within its people.

"Nationalism doesn't need to be carried out through just one
language," he said while pointing to Singapore as an example
where the wide use of English does not imply that politics there
is not nationalistic.

With the celebration of the country's golden anniversary, the
provincial government of Jakarta is spearheading a major campaign
to Indonesianize the names of hotels, housing estates and
entertainment centers. (mds)