'Use foreign languages in the proper context'
'Use foreign languages in the proper context'
JAKARTA (JP): Use the national Indonesian language with pride.
After all, 190 million people are using it, Minister of Education
and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro says.
"We should be proud when using Bahasa Indonesia," Wardiman
said while elaborating on his plan to launch a nationwide
campaign to use the national language correctly.
The minister, speaking after meeting with President Soeharto
at his Jl. Cendana residence, warned, however, that the national
language campaign should not lead to discrimination against any
other foreign language.
Using foreign languages in their proper context and at the
right time and place, he said, could also advance one's knowledge
and career.
"If I'm studying medicine, then I'd have to learn and use
English. If you're studying technology, you would have to learn
English, French or German," he said.
Asked about the use of foreign phrases, an area in which
Wardiman's office is also culpable in introducing terms such as
"link and match", the minister said most of these phrases have
their Indonesian equivalents.
"`Link and match' in Bahasa Indonesia is terkait dan sepadan,"
he said. He admitted that it might take some time to popularize
the Indonesian phrases once the foreign terms had gained wide
acceptance.
"Just look at the world canggih. It took six years before the
word gained acceptance," he said of the Indonesian term for
"sophisticated".
Wardiman said the national language campaign was created to
instill an awareness of the need to use Bahasa Indonesia properly
and correctly. "It's like driving a car, we have to be our own
police. We have to avoid violating the rules."
He said he had already discussed the campaign with a number of
people influential in the field of language, including the
leaders of the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI).
"The press has a broad influence on the use of language," he
said. "Now, it's up to the PWI leaders to send the message to
their members." (emb)