From today's Jakarta Post comes a report on an Indonesian push to make Bahasa Indonesia the "main language of the AEC":
The
Culture and Elementary and Secondary Education Ministry has prepared to make
the Indonesian Language the main language of the ASEAN Economic Community
(AEC), an official says. “We
have taken a number of steps like communicating with Indonesians living abroad
through Indonesian embassies and consulates. [Also,] we will offer Indonesian
lessons for foreigners wanting to work in Indonesia,” said the ministry’s
inspectorate general Daryanto as quoted by tribunnews.com in Jakarta on
Tuesday. According
to the official, Indonesian deserves to become the major language of the AEC
because Indonesia will be the center of economic development within the group
of 10 Southeast Asian countries.
I have covered this subject before, explaining why for the foreseeable future English will remain the working language of ASEAN, due to historical and economic factors. In fact, the article's emphasis on Bahasa Indonesia as the "major language" instead of the broader concept of a Bahasa that incorporates the variations spoken in Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines and parts of Indochina, or even to suggest that Bahasa could be one of the major languages in ASEAN is perhaps a little off-putting to the other nine ASEAN members.
Of course, in other regional blocs such as the EU, you have similar national dynamics, with the French government supporting use of the French language. Yet even the French do not advocate making French the major language of the EU, just a major language. Promoting Bahasa as a lingua franca in ASEAN in a similar way would be beneficial and reflective of the linguistic situation in ASEAN.
In any event, the Jakarta Post article is perhaps better seen as a barometer of attitudes in ASEAN. I contrast the article with the worries of the Thais and other ASEAN members that they are not proficient in English. This reflects their concerns with competing in the AEC and the larger world economy. This Jakarta Post article, on the other hand, adds to a growing sense that Indonesia has become more inward looking. Hopefully, those committed to an ASEAN Community, inside and outside of Indonesia, will step up their efforts to counteract this sentiment.
The
Culture and Elementary and Secondary Education Ministry has prepared to
make the Indonesian Language the main language of the ASEAN Economic
Community (AEC), an official says.
“We have taken a number of steps like communicating with Indonesians living abroad through Indonesian embassies and consulates. [Also,] we will offer Indonesian lessons for foreigners wanting to work in Indonesia,” said the ministry’s inspectorate general Daryanto as quoted by tribunnews.com in Jakarta on Tuesday.
According to the official, Indonesian deserves to become the major language of the AEC because Indonesia will be the center of economic development within the group of 10 Southeast Asian countries.
- See more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/08/18/push-indonesian-be-aec-s-main-language.html#sthash.0PY3K4lI.dpufThe Culture and Elementary and Secondary Education Ministry has prepared to make the Indonesian Language the main language of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), an official says.
“We have taken a number of steps like communicating with Indonesians living abroad through Indonesian embassies and consulates. [Also,] we will offer Indonesian lessons for foreigners wanting to work in Indonesia,” said the ministry’s inspectorate general Daryanto as quoted by tribunnews.com in Jakarta on Tuesday.
According to the official, Indonesian deserves to become the major language of the AEC because Indonesia will be the center of economic development within the group of 10 Southeast Asian countries.
- See more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/08/18/push-indonesian-be-aec-s-main-language.html#sthash.0PY3K4lI.dpufThe Culture and Elementary and Secondary Education Ministry has prepared to make the Indonesian Language the main language of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), an official says.
“We have taken a number of
steps like communicating with Indonesians living abroad through
Indonesian embassies and consulates. [Also,] we will offer Indonesian
lessons for foreigners wanting to work in Indonesia,” said the
ministry’s inspectorate general Daryanto as quoted by tribunnews.com in
Jakarta on Tuesday.
According to the official, Indonesian deserves to become the major language of the AEC because Indonesia will be the center of economic development within the group of 10 Southeast Asian countries.
- See more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/08/18/push-indonesian-be-aec-s-main-language.html#sthash.0PY3K4lI.dpufThe Culture and Elementary and Secondary Education Ministry has prepared to make the Indonesian Language the main language of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), an official says.
According to the official, Indonesian deserves to become the major language of the AEC because Indonesia will be the center of economic development within the group of 10 Southeast Asian countries.
- See more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/08/18/push-indonesian-be-aec-s-main-language.html#sthash.0PY3K4lI.dpufThe Culture and Elementary and Secondary Education Ministry has prepared to make the Indonesian Language the main language of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), an official says.
“We have taken a number of
steps like communicating with Indonesians living abroad through
Indonesian embassies and consulates. [Also,] we will offer Indonesian
lessons for foreigners wanting to work in Indonesia,” said the
ministry’s inspectorate general Daryanto as quoted by tribunnews.com in
Jakarta on Tuesday.
According to the official, Indonesian deserves to become the major language of the AEC because Indonesia will be the center of economic development within the group of 10 Southeast Asian countries.
- See more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/08/18/push-indonesian-be-aec-s-main-language.html#sthash.0PY3K4lI.dpuf
According to the official, Indonesian deserves to become the major language of the AEC because Indonesia will be the center of economic development within the group of 10 Southeast Asian countries.
- See more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/08/18/push-indonesian-be-aec-s-main-language.html#sthash.0PY3K4lI.dpuf
The
Culture and Elementary and Secondary Education Ministry has prepared to
make the Indonesian Language the main language of the ASEAN Economic
Community (AEC), an official says.
“We have taken a number of steps like communicating with Indonesians living abroad through Indonesian embassies and consulates. [Also,] we will offer Indonesian lessons for foreigners wanting to work in Indonesia,” said the ministry’s inspectorate general Daryanto as quoted by tribunnews.com in Jakarta on Tuesday.
According to the official, Indonesian deserves to become the major language of the AEC because Indonesia will be the center of economic development within the group of 10 Southeast Asian countries.
- See more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/08/18/push-indonesian-be-aec-s-main-language.html#sthash.0PY3K4lI.dpuf
“We have taken a number of steps like communicating with Indonesians living abroad through Indonesian embassies and consulates. [Also,] we will offer Indonesian lessons for foreigners wanting to work in Indonesia,” said the ministry’s inspectorate general Daryanto as quoted by tribunnews.com in Jakarta on Tuesday.
According to the official, Indonesian deserves to become the major language of the AEC because Indonesia will be the center of economic development within the group of 10 Southeast Asian countries.
- See more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/08/18/push-indonesian-be-aec-s-main-language.html#sthash.0PY3K4lI.dpuf
