'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)