Standardized Indonesian

Standardized Indonesian

Calls from various members of the public for better
(grammatical) use of the Indonesian language have one thing in
common, that is the importance of using the standard variety of
Indonesian, especially for public figures.

I think that the setting up of a kind of TOEFL test for
Indonesian by Pusat Bahasa, or the Center for Indonesian Language
(The Jakarta Post, Oct. 4, 2000: Nation told to use proper Bahasa
Indonesia), is the best way to go about reducing and overcoming
the violations of the standard grammar and phonology of
Indonesian, as expressed by Odo Fadloeli in his letter (The Post,
Nov. 16, 2000).

Taking this standardized test should be made compulsory. All
individuals, Indonesians and expatriates alike, particularly
those having influential positions in society, should take the
test. They must achieve a certain score before they can be
recruited and/or promoted, or in the case of students, before
they are admitted to educational institutions. It is useless
to criticize the violators without trying to take some concrete
action.

CHAIRIL ANWAR KOROMPOT

Makassar, South Sulawesi