Ivan Lanin - Bahasa Indonesia itu Indah | BukaTalks

Summary

The speaker shares their journey of rediscovering Bahasa Indonesia through Wikipedia contributions and Twitter engagement. They emphasize the richness of the Indonesian language, its evolution, and the importance of using it correctly and proudly. The talk addresses common language mistakes, the ease of learning Indonesian compared to other languages, and offers tips on how to enrich language use, maintain linguistic flexibility, and the significance of preserving both national and ethnic languages.

Takeaways

• 📚 The speaker began restudying Bahasa Indonesia in 2006, primarily due to their writing activities on Wikipedia, not just a Twitter account.
• 💻 The speaker was initially more fluent in English and computer programming languages due to their occupation and environment.
• 🧐 Realizing their poor writing skills in Bahasa Indonesia, the speaker embarked on a journey of self-study to improve their proficiency.
• 🗣️ Despite being an Indonesian, the speaker emphasizes that it doesn't guarantee the ability to speak or write in formal Bahasa Indonesia.
• 💡 The speaker's curiosity about language nuances led them to ask questions like why certain words are capitalized and others are not.
• 🤔 The speaker is not a 'grammar nazi' but prefers to guide people towards the correct use of the language based on established principles.
• 🌐 The speaker believes that Bahasa Indonesia should be used appropriately according to context and principles, whether in informal chats or formal writing.
• 📈 Bahasa Indonesia has a rich vocabulary, derived from various sources including Sanskrit, Dutch, and Tamil, making it a melting pot of languages.
• 🏛️ The Indonesian language evolved from Malay and was officially recognized in 1926 during the first Youth Congress, aiming to unify the diverse ethnic groups of Indonesia.
• 🌟 The speaker advocates for the pride and mastery of Bahasa Indonesia, countering the notion that it's less 'cool' than foreign languages and highlighting its simplicity and consistency.
• 📝 The speaker shares tips on language learning, emphasizing the importance of correct usage and the joy of writing in one's native language.

Q & A

Why did the speaker start restudying Bahasa Indonesia?

The speaker started restudying Bahasa Indonesia because they realized their writing skills in the language were poor while contributing to the Bahasa Indonesia Wikipedia, despite being fluent in English and a computer programming language.

How does the speaker describe their initial experience with formal Bahasa Indonesia?

The speaker found it very difficult to speak in formal Bahasa Indonesia, noting that being Indonesian does not guarantee the ability to speak or write in formal Bahasa Indonesia.

What motivated the speaker to share their knowledge of Bahasa Indonesia on Twitter?

The speaker was motivated to share their knowledge on Twitter because they had experienced difficulty finding resources and someone to ask questions when they were learning Bahasa Indonesia.

Why does the speaker believe that Bahasa Indonesia is not as cool as foreign languages according to some people?

The speaker suggests that it's not Bahasa Indonesia that is not cool, but rather that people are not learning it correctly, as evidenced by the rich glossary and flexibility of the language.

What is the significance of the date May 2, 1926, in the history of Bahasa Indonesia mentioned by the speaker?

May 2, 1926, is significant because it marks the birth of Bahasa Indonesia, which was initially called Malay language and was adopted during the first Youth Congress to unify the youth of Indonesia from various ethnic backgrounds.

How many times has the Indonesian language spelling system been altered since the 20th century according to the speaker?

The speaker mentions that there have been four significant alterations to the Indonesian language spelling system since the beginning of the 20th century.

What does the speaker suggest as a way to enrich one's vocabulary in Bahasa Indonesia?

The speaker suggests reading books as a way to enrich one's vocabulary in Bahasa Indonesia, emphasizing the importance of learning from a rich source of language rather than just social media status updates.

Why does the speaker argue that Bahasa Indonesia is relatively easy to learn compared to other languages?

The speaker argues that Bahasa Indonesia is easy to learn because it has simple word formation, no gender, no different emphasis, uses the Roman alphabet, and has consistent pronunciation.

What is the speaker's view on the current state of the Indonesian language in terms of pride and skill?

The speaker believes that the pride of using Indonesian language has faded and the skill is declining, as evidenced by common language mistakes and a preference for English on public banners.

What are the two main language mistakes the speaker frequently sees among Indonesians?

The two main language mistakes the speaker sees are the incorrect use of separated 'di' and joined 'di', and the confusion between 'merubah' (to be a fox) and 'mengubah' (to change).

What advice does the speaker give for making Bahasa Indonesia flexible and rich in expression?

The speaker advises enriching one's vocabulary by reading books, playing with sentence structure, using intonation effectively in speech, employing phatic expressions for emotion, and using code switching appropriately to connect with audiences.