THE STATUS AND FUNCTIONS OF ENGLISH IN INDONESIA A REVIEW OF KEY FACTORS

Allan Lauder

Department of linguistics, FIB, university of Indonesia

Email : allan lauder@gmail.com

In here to explain about understand used of English in Indonesia, including the way useful such as :

historical, political, sociocultural linguistic factors in shaped status and function over the last century.

In my opinion if we look at use of English in Indonesia with developed in context level of post

colonial educational in purpose competency building, and also more to need support development

in particular used role in state education. However, tobe attitudes, of some policy they’ re make and

commentators to language which often ambivalent with expressing fears of its power to the

meaning negatve cultural influences. In here tobe found the special status of English knowing as

global language with many potential varieties mybe in including pose as models for Indonesia and

the question of which beright for the country. In here the paper should be look at some matter

particular in educational and policy issues, and give some obliged suggestions about the future.

Keywords : English language, Indonesia, sociolinguistics,language planning, language education,

language varieties of English, English as an international language, roles of English language culture.

 Introduction

To explain about historical, political,sociocultural and linguistic is included in context.

 What historical influences ( both colonial and post colonial ) have tobe taken into

consideration when describing the role of English in Indonesia to day ?

Answer

Historical, political, sociocultural, and linguistic factors have shaped its status and

functions over the last century.

 What roles of function is englishexpected to play in Indonesia to day ?

Answer
 He use of English in Indonesia has developed in the context of post colonial

educational competency building, and more recently the need to support

development in particular its role instate educational.

 Which norm of English should be taken as a basis for use in Indonesia ?

Answer

Some policy makers and commentators towards the language have often been

ambivalent, expressing fears of its power to exert negative cultural influences.

 What roles has government legistlation played in shaping the current situation ?

Answer

The special status of English as a global language with many potential varieties that

might pose as models for Indonesia also poses the question of which one would be

right for the country.

 What suggestions might be offered with regard to any problems that have been

indentified with the current status of English ?

Answer

The paper looks at these educational and policy issues, and also gives some

suggestions about the future.

In here this essay the primarily focusses on the period of 1900 to 2000. In here

where many work would be needed of person to bring I think that it is completely up

to date. Also they need it to the purpose omission and possibly errors when author

would be glad to hear about.

 Historical review

When the dutch occupied Indonesia over 350 years, since 1595, which they were loath to

provide any education all including Indonesian population. During the dutch colonial period,

that few Indonesians could received any education, even some level and majority were

illiterate. In here the policy which of keeping the colonized people in the something dark
which realize the different quite of the british in their colonial territories. The fiew second

school in Indonesia which only by dutch children and also they must select fiew vocal

officials and well connected of some people. Although English was tobe taught of foreign

language in this schools, that fiew children were attend them ( Gregory, 1964 : 15 ).western

style of elementary schools, they were introduced in 1907 and English was into the first

taught to Indonesian in 1914 when junior and senior high school were only set up in 1918. (

dard jowid jojo, 2003 b : 66 ), They are quoting ( vander veur and Lian, 1969 : 2 ). According

to ( Tilaar, 1995 : 28-33 ), in 1930, the literacy rate in Indonesia was a mere 6,4% and in

1940, they only 37 senior high schools in the entire country. Then into the several privileged

class can be found of Indonesian that they received any education grew up knowing Dutch

and may be some English but English was taught of person I think that not all tobe used as a

medium of communication. During the second world war, where the Japanese was

prohibited about teaching of English. When the Dutch returned to Indonesia after te

Japanese defeated of Indonesia which they attemted to make curriculum is used before the

war.most the system during the war in the four years of turmoil has followed a greatly

disrupted ( Gregory, 1964 : 15 ). However, into the idealistic member of generation and they

hadstuggled to opposition the colonized throught the war years in here I saw that their used

time to throw the dutch yoke had come but they think bloody something through their

armed struggle, through proclaimed as their independence from the dutch on August 17,

1950, and shouldbe return to their attention in social and cultural matters including

education. When they decided that English, rather than Dutch, and would be into the first

foreign language of the country, because dutch was used language of their colonialist and

they not have the international status of English did it. Dardjowidjojo ( 2003 : b 67 ) you can

see and choice of English as part of a pattern of choices and also fell that newly independent

of states when they shoulbe working out and using for language policies in the context of

bilingual or multilingual in societies. The tempting of the purpose to compare English

 language and look at situation in Indonesia with neighboring such as : Malaysia, Singapore,

and Philippines, knowing as dardjowidjojo ( 2003 d : 31-32 points out I think that is

impossible because we cant used to try and imitate the policies why its happened because

Indonesia has not been colony of either the U.K or the U.S.A. in my opinion this countries

have no foundation According to me when use English generally usage of people in official or

public life. Tobe social account of English in Indonesia from their independence to the

preseny and would be necessarily and getting some iformation about the role that English

has played all society at large, and including in business, politics, education and medium.

However, tobe limited time and think the difficulty of tracking down adequate source are

made of people I think this is impossible. Briefly, but it is possible to note that English has

played an importante role particular in education as a compulsory subject in school but

noting student like this particular at university students when they will complete thir

chources without something being could assign them and least some reading in English. If

our look at business people find increasingly of their ideas for success in management are

published in English. Also with their quite common where we can find people living in thr

country’s with agreement making people and needs English to some extent.

 Roles and function of English

 English as an international language

 I think that this is widely recognized and consider that english is important for for Indonesia

and frequently put forward and also english is aglobal status of english is patly all due to the

number of people which who are speak about it. ( crystal, 2003 a : 67-69, crystal, 2003 b :

108-109 ) with estimates in 2000 to 1,500 million speaker is used of people of english in

world wide, with consisting around 329 million speakers ( most this is circle countries ) and

750 million is the something speaker of english as foreign language in the countries it was

expanding circle. This means in effect my be around one in four of the worlds population are

capable of communicating to a “ useful level “ in english. [[That its potentially a lot of people
forfor Indonesians who know english to communicate . I think that it is potentially is used of

people as medium communication . with the development of english in presenting status is

the result, using them. According to ( crystal, 2003 a : 59 ), of the expansion of british

colonial power up to the end of the nineteenth century and the emergence of the united

states as the current world economic superpower. I think that with the expansion of british

of colonial is a power up to the united states which was current on the world economic

superpower. In here tobe two forles which they have left us with a situation in english are

spoken in every country in the world and they are seventy five territories which it is either

first language or commond used in some official or institutional capacity knowing as second

language ( Jenkins, 2003 : 2 ). The use of english has wide spread means that the great deal

mention of variation in the english with used on the different place. If our look at any

situation which their attempt to find some sort of order which they realized some

complexity, yet a number of models of the world wide actually use of english have been put

forward. Kachru’s with his widely accepted conceptualitation of the geographic and

historical spread of english as three circles is helpful. To explain about accepted some

conceptualitation are geographic and historical were spread of english as three circles is help

us in any situation. I think that frequently tobe some version of model ( kachru, 1992 : 356 ),

sametime the circles oval that they ratherthn circular and presented vertically, even

concentrically, where something with the lowest generally circles representing which are

earlier version of englis. In my opinion that these models in circles with refers to the “

traditional bases “ usage of english USA, Ireland, Canada, Australia, the UK, and new

Zealand. The outer ( or extend ) with the circles on general refers to the earlier were spread

of language in non native settings, I think that were the language has into the part of the

countries is important for institution, and it plays in an important ‘ second language ‘ in here

in to the role in multilingual setting : which it includes Indonesian neighbors such as

Singapore, Malaysia , India and fifty other territories. Even more expanding or extending
circles and depending on nations with recognize is importance of english knowing as an

international language, but it is not colonized by the countries of the inner circle, and they

are not given several english in any special include the official status. Thesecountries show

that when the english tobe taught knowing as aforeign language. I think that where

indionesia belongs to this group, includes china, japan, Greece and Poland ( crystal, 2003 a :

60 ). English in the entire circles which tobe ‘ norm providing’ and excludes in the outer

circles. However, english knowing as a foreign language ( EFL ) are varieties is used in

Indonesia, which are performance, of people and used of varieties most not using to official

status and remain dependent on their standards its all set by native speakers particular from

the inner circle ( Jenkins, 2003 : 16 ). Kachru consider that attitudes, power and politics, and

a number of fallacies about the users and uses of english have dictated english language

policy. in here explain about english has attitudes is used for power and politics, and are

number with the different among users and uses of english have dictated in english language

policy. in Indonesia, though english seldom using in society and also is not used in medium

of communication find of in official, government of domains, the law courts, and education

system,so that they cant special status in the country’s language legislation, because they

are not profit it. Even we look at priority, I think that it is important of the foreign language

which was tobe taught ( simatupang, 1999 : 64 ). Is usedof people or generation so that

making easy generalitations about the social function of english that english are not easy in a

country like Indonesia even thought not their first language. In the inner countries, english

by definition is used of people for all communication situation. Consider that usage english

in Indonesia, its role by means of cocetuation on the process of language planning that

rather than usage linguistic evolution, ( crystal, 2003 b : 106 ). Beside tobe some other

models of english have been proposed, to improve on kachru . so that stevents ( 1992 : 33 )

that they have portrays fine of historical link among them self are varieties kind of their

family in tree imposed via world map. In my opinion that these models has described by mc
 Arthur is another dependent on the circle word standard english in center. Then a circle

surrounded by eight unsure of containing a regional collective of english. You can see that

the reprints are used of the model describe by ( mc Arthur, 1998.97 ) or ( crystal, 2003 b :

111 ). Beside be the other models is describe on gorlach ( 1988 ). Also we can see in ( mc

Arthur, 1998 : 101, which has used these models, however it was tend more to reflect about

historical and political reality and and dis satisfied to present about the sociolinguistic in

reality of the way that english is being is used of person in the modern world knowing as

foreign language, just as in Indonesia( crystal, 2003 b : 109 ) which have a “ huge potential ,

foreign language and population “. In my opinion is huge is potential which are used in

english in population. So that model used of modiano ( 1999 b ) that the primarily over

prominent on place used making people tobe the representing about international english

that is a number of centripetal circles, with proficient are international english in the center

fine of native nor non native are speakers in english . whereas the second circle consist of

five groups , from each characterized in the features are particular to speech in community

because be the different can we found so that I think may be not be under stood by people

outside. In here several function status current of english with the wide and knowing as an

international or global language owing to the people usage for : politics,diplomacy,

international trade and industrycommerce, science, and technology education,media, even

if information technology, and popular culture ( crystal, 2003 a :86 ff. , 2003 b : 106 ),

according to me that the suggestion explain about usage in english as for me is importan in

particular the role and plays in the area.

 Economics and business : that in the usa position as famous the world number one with

their economic was hard worke on global business. With regarding organization think the

difficulty to do something without using english. While the tourist industry in particular and

dependent on english, but more reseamble on their business of any multinational with their

international offices to have that staff truth that can be work in english.
 International relation

When the english as a key of international bodies. Beside language is used by official to

make relation international or ( united nations ). With the diplomants may be learn as a

number of language fine of their career, but to be impossible that they should be learn

language of a country, and also english may be usedof people as a lingua franca.

 Education

In my opinion that the large in proportion of the scientific papesr are published in all subject

in english. Then the english is increasingly too, and used of people such as a medium of

instruction in institute in schools and universities appropriate with the subject is used level

management , information technology and the humanities is used of engish . beside english

has widely which tobe taught knowing as foreign language is used by students and would be

learn in english speaking country for employment

 Communications

Most the people using english as a medium communication I think may be around 80% of

theworlds electronically the purpose to save several information in english.

 The media the world of current information and popular culture

I think that the propotion around ( 57% ) of the worlds and news papers are published in

countries and also english has special status most the people usage for getting information

along side the majority and major for advertising are us owned. Along side english

dominates in global via televition nor radio for getting information. Getting some

information is useful even if used of person to make some films which dominated from and

with the large may be around ( 80% ) that ruther than features films owing to given a

theatrical was release in 2002 as being in english. Beside english has role in some popular in

1990s, shoul be worked exclusive in english and lyrics of some singer along with getting a

symbolic, and socio political ( bob Dylan ), literary status ( leonard cohen, and the audienc (

1984 live aid ). According to me how ever, via intrnet of variety of languages and non roman
 scripts ( hussain et.al., 2005 ),because they think difficulty to the role and plays in the

following areas :

 Economics and business

In here number of economic level wich with the pull on their bussines are organization and

international market. Beside it the tourist in particular level of industry I think that its all

dependen on using english , but tobe any multinational business with their international

office that the people should be have staffs can work in english.

 International relations

I think that english as number one is used of people or official languages of the united

nations which are key international bodies tobe diplomats that possible they learn in

theircareers of the other but into the impossible how we have to learn language of a country

so used it as lingua franca.

 International travel and safety I think tah when the english is language the people used for

navigation fine of sea and for air traffic control. Huda ( 2000 : 68 ) mention five factors that

they are made english as an international language :

1. Its international linguistic features

2. The large number of english speakers

3. The wide geographical spread of used

4. Its importance is field such as politics, international diplomacy, economic and

business, science and technology, and culture

5. The use of english by countries which currently dominate world affairs economically,

politically and culturally.

I think that he used english to describe the widely of english used of peoplein level

certain. In my opinion that concerning the linguistic are properties of english,

because they are need support in term such as the large of vocabulary of english

have several note and claims that english are logical so other languages are spurious
 and as ( crystal, 2003 b : 106 ) place to put and the result of “ unthinking chauvinisim

“ or native linguistic thinking and also into the reason a person for wo are , usage

english that isn’t a mother tongue and maybe into they are wanted to learn english

for example : historical, political, economic, practical, intellectual, or related to

enterteinmnet . Ithink that it is anumber of speakers where who are used english

are worldwide , with consider that it is valid reasons for its special status in

Indonesian and written into their policy . Ithink that seen on the status , because

english has been limited by policy they are made a tool to the purose serving and

needed of development ,potential , and intellectual to development or culture

which have been purpose. Whereas in Indonesia tobe several policy on the

development to make english as a foreign language, and several choice in forward

creation , after Indonesia and it vernanluras. However, if we look at the

sociolinguistic situation has dynamic our self. Owing to that not always into the form

in channels created by policy activities.

 Role of english alongside the other language

In Indonesia that the language policy has conted with higly multicultural and multilungual in

society. I think that english is status, roles, or function has tobe seen and takes of a place .

while are main categories, speaking Indonesia, with th regional vernaculars, and usage

foreign language. While in Indonesia tobe several choice into the national soething success

story. Also rifght now the understoodand spoken are majority of Indonesia, and indiglossic

situation , that Indonesian is used such as typically, ‘ high ‘ or public funtions of the regional

vernanculars, they used for ‘ law ‘ , informal , and are personal purpose and and cultural

indentity ( renandya , 2000 : 144, seneddon, 2004 sennedon 2006 ). In my opinion that even

if english is numer one of foreign languages have been and we used for coming are tobe

taught. Beside the country include dutch , Arabic, english, german, French, Japanese, and

latterly, Chinese ( pu tong hua ). Whereas the Arabic has been long learned on general
connection with the Islamic faith. But it I not learned social interaction but their usage for

religious, the specially for qur ‘an recitation and prayers ( sholat ) . While the dutch should

be continues tobe learned is used by students with intend to study in Holland and business

people . while the Chinese language and culture which were proscribed during soehrto years

but dependent on climate is growing their interest in learning Chinese and into the driven by

Chinese has growing ekonomi is very important and their in crease in trade and business

among two countries, the cultural and ethnic among the community that try of Chinese in

Indonesia and richenes of chinas historical, cultural and literary tradition. I think that in a

number a foreign language can be distinguished from one another because primarily used it

ontheir business I think that when we used language that language has a number last we

wear if our look at society that they have speaking using their language selve as interaction ,

in my opinion is english has specially on status communication among foreign language.

Beside with the large of language for medium communication post independence period

and presently that only foreign language and we have compulsory in followed subject in

school . along side to be the other foreign language include the French, Chinese or Japanese

offered are electives ( Renandya, 2000 : 115-116 ).

2. language schizophrenia

I think that when be the debate among of people about the effect of colonialism on usage

english, that actually english has impact with other language in countries ( Jenkins 2003 : 50

ff, 146 ff ), and also tobe several used enlish in argument because not relevan in indonesia

and seldom used of people . that its not english because language of colonizer but is Dutch.

While tobe some ambivalence, however,if we look at the position that now english has

means and dominant that are lots of people used english in education and politic in

Indonesia along side push and pull which we need for benefit from communicating in

english the purpose to development and our fear influence from english, in culturally, same

time most some person think that it is an undesirable on life and language. Beside the role of
foreign language that language has several plays used of people in Indonesia national

language policy has been framed since using the metaphor of english as tool