Indonesia is the largest island nation in the world. It is located in Southeast Asia on 17.5 thousand islands, however, people live only on the third part of them. In terms of population, Indonesia holds an honorable 4th place in the world: according to 2018, more than 266 million people are its citizens.
Not surprisingly, the linguistic diversity of the state is staggering. But there is a language in Indonesia that unites the whole country - it is the state Indonesian.
Let's talk Languages Indonesia
Scientists have calculated this information. They recorded how many languages in Indonesia are living, used for everyday communication. There were more than 700 of them, and the Austronesian family leads in the number of active native speakers. She is the most numerous.
The Austronesian family includes:
- nuclear Malay-Polynesian languages (including one of the most common Javanese, Sundanian and Sulawesian languages);
- Kalimantan;
- Filipino.
They speak Indonesia and Papuan.
Number of language speakers
Finding out what language is spoken in Indonesia, it is worth considering that the official - Indonesian - is spoken by all the inhabitants of the country, and this is no less than 266 million people.
What other languages do the inhabitants of this Asian power communicate in an informal setting:
- about 85 million people own Javanese;
- Sundan - 34 million;
- Madur almost 14 million people.
The inhabitants of Indonesia use the language of Minangkabau, Betavi (5 million each), Bugian, Banjarian, Aceh, Balinese (3.5 million each), Musi (3.1 million), Sasaki and Toba (2 million each). Levothobi, tae, Bolaang Mongondou, and Ambonian are the least native speakers (according to 2000, 200-300 thousand people). All of them are used in the social sphere, in interethnic communication.
Official language
What is the official language in Indonesia? It is called Indonesian, but its correct name is Bahasa Indonesia - in translation "the language of Indonesia." It is native mainly for the inhabitants of Jakarta, and this is 8% of the total population of the country. However, it is this language that plays a unifying role with a large number of different dialects.
History
The main language in Indonesia belongs to the Indonesian branch of the Austronesian language family. It was formed at the beginning of the XX century. based on widespread Malay. For this, the colloquial and literary forms of Malay were used, as well as the European languages spoken in the former colony, primarily Dutch.
The Indonesian language was declared the language of national unity in October 1928. The decision was made at the Youth Congress (pictured). After that, for a long time he had two names - Indonesian / Malay.
The adoption of the official language was facilitated by several circumstances:
- intensification of the nationalist movement for the country's independence;
- the need to unite all language groups.
Why did you choose Malay?
- The colonial government of the Netherlands used the Malay language in official records management.
- The Bible was translated into this language, with the help of which the missionaries converted the local population to Christianity.
- The Malay language was actively used in trade between tribes, it was known in different ports. In addition, his simple grammar and easy-to-remember vocabulary made it possible to quickly learn this language.
- And another important reason - nationalists from the Congress of Youth sought to choose as an official language that would not be associated with the largest group of the population in the country, and these were residents of the island of Java. So that the Javanese did not receive political and economic advantages in the new state, the choice fell on the Malay language.
The strengthening and development of the Indonesian language was facilitated by the Japanese occupation of the islands during World War II, when all languages and dialects, except Indonesian, were banned.
The Indonesian language finally received official status in 1945, when the state gained independence, turning from a colony into the Republic of Indonesia.
Historical features of the state language
Scientists have discovered ancient monuments of writing adopted on the islands of Indonesia, which date back to VII century.
Over the centuries, the alphabet used has repeatedly changed: first it was Devanagari, then from the XIII century. Arabic characters were used, and only at the end of XIX began to use the Latin alphabet, using the Dutch rules for spelling words.
Language norms, lexical and grammatical, finally developed only in the 60s of the XX century. The Latin transcription adopted in the course of the reform of 1972 finally combined the variants of the Malay language into a single state language of Indonesia, while the spelling was simplified.
Some rules of the Indonesian language
The Indonesian language has 30 sounds, which are indicated by 26 letters of the alphabet.
Some language features:
- Phonetic. Emphasis in words is almost not expressed, vowels are not reduced. The word is usually read as it is written.
- Word-building. Words are formed by adding suffixes, prefixes and infixes, as well as repeating the word or its first syllable. There are not many complicated words. The plural is formed by repeating the word.
- Grammatical. Nouns have no declensions, verbs lack conjugations, tenses are short. The grammatical gender is not used; instead, it is marked by age. Adjectives are formed from nouns by the addition of suffixes.
- Word contract in sentences. Usually the subject, expressed by a noun or pronoun, faces the predicate. The meaning of a sentence is often enclosed in word order. Suggestions can be simple and complex.
Vocabulary
The Indonesian language is rich in borrowings. About 3 thousand words from Arabic were adopted, and the vocabulary is also replenished with words and expressions from the following languages:
- Sanskrit;
- Dutch;
- English;
- French;
- even Greek and Italian;
- from the dialects of Sundan and Jakarta.
Modern use
The official language of Indonesia is not only used for international communication. He does not teach at schools and higher educational institutions.
It is used in print, on television and radio. Official clerical work, trade, jurisprudence, cultural sphere - the official language of Indonesia is everywhere used.
The amount of fiction written on it is increasing, although there are no famous writers yet.
Where in Russia they study the state Indonesian language
The language of Indonesia is uncomplicated. Its basics can be quickly learned by taking a few lessons from tutors.
You can master all the subtleties of the national language of Indonesia in Moscow universities:
- Institute of Oriental Studies RAS.
- Institute of Practical Oriental Studies.
- MGIMO.
- Institute of Asian and African Countries.
In St. Petersburg, the language is taught at the Eastern Institute of FEFU, Russian State Humanitarian University, at the Eastern Faculty of St. Petersburg State University.
A few courtesy phrases in Indonesian
Going on vacation or on business to Indonesia, you can count on knowledge of the English language, which is taught in schools in Indonesia, and many residents speak it well. But a few phrases of courtesy said by the tourist in the language of Indonesia will be greeted with joy.
Phrases for a friendly tourist:
- yes - ya;
- no - tidak;
- hello - halo;
- sorry - permisi;
- thanks - terima kasih;
- please - kembali;
- Do you speak English? - apakah anda berbicara dalam bahasa?
- help me - tolong saya.
Local residents are pleased if, referring to women, they add the word "mistress" to the name - bu, and to men, "master" - pak.
Funny facts
- The name of the main island in Indonesia and the name of the programming language are the same. In honor of the island of Java, a model of Czech motorcycles and cigarettes is also named.
- But the word “Indonesia” has nothing to do with local languages, it is translated from Greek as “Island India”.
- The word "orangutan" in Indonesian means "man of the forest", and "matahari" - "eye of the day, the sun." These words are known even to those who have not heard about which language in Indonesia is adopted by the state.
Other popular languages of Indonesia
The Javanese language is extremely popular, it is used by 85 million people, primarily on the island of Java. This language is spoken in schools and on television, books and newspapers are printed on it.