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2torial
#0828:
Learn2
Get By in
Indonesian
Selamat datang right back at ya!
Indonesian? Yes, Indonesian. If you've ever been
intrigued by the notion of travel in Southeast
Asia, this is one language you should consider
studying. Why? For a couple of very good
reasons:
- It's (relatively) easy. Unlike
Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean and the like, it
doesn't require mastery of a new writing system.
The grammar is among the simplest of modern
languages, and pronunciation is almost always a
snap.
- It opens up a big part of the world.
Most Americans are surprised to find that
Indonesia is the fourth most populous country on
the planet, right behind the United States.
itself. That's a lot of new friends to make. And
what's more, a lot of new ground to cover: the
nation itself is spread over more than 17,000
islands that literally bridge the Pacific in a
territory that makes its neighbors everyone from
Thailand to Australia to Papua New Guinea.
That's a country big enough to have dozens of
fascinating subcultures, from the laid-back
Hindus of Bali to the urbane Muslim of Jakarta.
This is not your standard-issue Third World
Country we're talking about.
But enough Chamber of Commerce-speak: let's
learn you some language! The following is one of
our celebrated "Get by Guides," designed not to
make you fluent in the language, but to thrust the
basics of day-to-day communication in your general
direction.
Semoga berhasil! (Good luck!)
Here are some facts to give you the big picture,
and to keep you motivated. "Bahasa Indonesia"
(that's the formal name for the Indonesian
language), is a relatively new spoken and written
dialect of the Malay language. Dutch scholars
developed the current form of standard Indonesian
for use in colonial schools in the early 20th
century.
Today, Bahasa Indonesia is spoken throughout the
country, excepting more remote areas in the outer
islands. A grasp of the most basic Indonesian can
prove extremely useful when trying to navigate the
essentials of a visit. Jakarta's sizable expatriot
population makes it a bit easier on foreigners. In
Bali, however, it's essential to pick up a bit of
the native tongue, lest you spend your vacations
juggling English, sign language and patience.
Those of you who have experienced being stuck in
an unfamiliar place where locals speak an
unfamiliar language will realize that a little time
spent in learning the basics can be a very smart
investment. Indonesians are, for the most part,
friendly and outgoing; they'll be thrilled to find
you've spent some time studying the local
lingo.
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