Indonesian language policy and perspectives on its implementation in promoting Bahasa Indonesia as an international language

Abstract

Bahasa Indonesia is currently studied by many foreign students and taught internationally. This phenomenon tracks the Indonesian government’s language policy goals in promoting Bahasa Indonesia as an international language. But how does this fit together? This study aims to examine the language policy and its implementation. A qualitative design was employed, and data were obtained using narrative inquiry techniques through semi-structured interviews with 15 participants consisting of academicians, activists, and teachers of BIPA. In collecting data, participants’ voices regarding the language policy forms and its implementation were gathered and language policy documents were investigated. The results showed that the Indonesian language policy is enshrined by laws, government regulations, and ministerial decree. The implementation in laws and government legislation have been successful yet the ministerial decrees have not. It can be concluded that the language policy is the nation’s interest for public diplomacy to preserve, maintain, develop, and cultivate the language. The implementation of promoting Bahasa Indonesia as an international language lies on the success of BIPA teaching as a means to spread Bahasa Indonesia use internationally. It indicates the inseparable relationship between the Indonesian language policy campaign and the development of BIPA. Theoretical and several practical implications are also discussed.

Keywords

• Bahasa Indonesia
• BIPA
• Indonesian as a foreign language
• international language
• language policy
• Jeroen van de Weijer, College of International Studies, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, CHINA