9 Reasons Why Indonesian is Easy - Bahasa Indonesia

Summary

In this video, the creator explains why Indonesian is often considered an easy language to learn. Key reasons include no verb conjugations, no cases, and simple plural forms. The language uses the Latin alphabet, is phonetic, and follows a word order similar to English. Indonesian also lacks verb tenses, gendered nouns, and tonal variations, making it more straightforward for learners. However, the video hints that there are still some challenges to learning Indonesian, which will be explored in another video.

Takeaways

• 😀 No verb conjugations: Indonesian verbs do not change based on the subject, making it simpler than many other languages.
• 😀 No cases: Unlike languages like Russian or German, Indonesian nouns remain the same regardless of their grammatical function.
• 😀 Simplified plural forms: Informal Indonesian does not require changing nouns for plural, making it more straightforward to learn.
• 😀 Familiar alphabet: Indonesian uses the Latin alphabet, so learners don't need to learn a new writing system like in Arabic or Chinese.
• 😀 Phonetic language: Words in Indonesian are spelled exactly as they sound, which makes pronunciation easier for learners.
• 😀 Similar word order to English: The basic sentence structure (subject-verb-object) in Indonesian is the same as in English, making it easier for English speakers.
• 😀 No verb tenses: Indonesian doesn't have complex verb tenses like in English; instead, simple words like 'sudah' (already) and 'akan' (will) are used.
• 😀 No gendered nouns: Indonesian nouns don't have gender, unlike languages like Spanish, German, or French, simplifying the language structure.
• 😀 No tones: Indonesian is not a tonal language, which makes it easier to learn compared to languages like Thai or Chinese.
• 😀 Easier for English speakers: The combination of simple grammar rules, no tones, and a familiar writing system makes Indonesian one of the easiest languages for English speakers to learn.

Q & A

Why is Indonesian considered an easy language to learn?

Indonesian is considered easy because it has simple grammar rules, no verb conjugations, no noun cases, and it uses the same Roman alphabet as English. It is also phonetic, meaning words are pronounced as they are written, and it follows a basic sentence structure similar to English.

What is meant by 'no verb conjugations' in Indonesian?

In Indonesian, verbs do not change based on the subject. For example, the verb 'to speak' remains the same whether the subject is 'I', 'he', or 'they'. This makes Indonesian easier to learn compared to languages like Spanish, where verb forms change based on the subject.

What are noun cases, and why doesn't Indonesian use them?

Noun cases are grammatical forms that change the endings of nouns or adjectives depending on their role in a sentence (e.g., subject, object, etc.). Languages like Russian or German use cases, making them more complex. Indonesian, however, does not use noun cases, so the form of words like 'school' remains the same in different contexts.

How are plurals formed in informal Indonesian?

In informal Indonesian, plurals are usually indicated by repeating the noun. For example, 'orang' means person, and 'dua orang' means two people. The plural form doesn't change the word itself, making it simpler than in other languages where plural forms are more complex.

Does Indonesian use a different alphabet than English?

No, Indonesian uses the same Roman alphabet as English, so learners don’t have to memorize a new script or characters. This makes it easier for English speakers to start learning.

What does it mean that Indonesian is a phonetic language?

Being phonetic means that in Indonesian, words are pronounced exactly as they are spelled. This is unlike English, where words like 'though' or 'colonel' are not pronounced the way they are spelled.

How does sentence structure in Indonesian compare to English?

Indonesian typically follows the same Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) sentence structure as English. This makes it easier for English speakers to form sentences in Indonesian without having to adjust to a completely new word order.

Does Indonesian have verb tenses like English?

No, Indonesian does not have multiple verb tenses like English. Instead, it uses simple words like 'sudah' (already) to indicate past tense and 'akan' (will) for future tense. This makes expressing time in Indonesian much simpler.

Are nouns in Indonesian gendered like in Spanish or French?

No, Indonesian nouns do not have gender, unlike languages such as Spanish or French where every noun is either masculine or feminine. This reduces complexity in learning and using nouns in Indonesian.

Why doesn't Indonesian have tones, and how does that help learners?

Indonesian does not have tonal variations, unlike languages such as Mandarin, Vietnamese, or Thai. In tonal languages, the meaning of a word can change based on tone, which adds difficulty for learners. Indonesian's lack of tones simplifies pronunciation and understanding.

What challenges might learners face when studying Indonesian despite its simplicity?

While Indonesian is relatively simple in terms of grammar and structure, learners might still struggle with vocabulary acquisition, understanding formal vs. informal usage, and mastering colloquial expressions. However, overall, Indonesian remains a beginner-friendly language.