Sejarah Bahasa Indonesia: Dari Melayu Kuno Hingga Jadi Bahasa Persatuan Bangsa

Summary

The video traces the rich history of the Indonesian language, from its roots in 7th-century ancient Malay inscriptions to its role in unifying the nation. It explores classical Malay during the Srivijaya and Malacca periods, the Dutch colonial attempts to replace it, and the evolution of low and high Malay. A pivotal moment came in 1928 with the Youth Pledge, when Malay was officially renamed Indonesian, symbolizing national unity. Following independence in 1945, Indonesian became the official language, growing into a modern, evolving language spoken by over 270 million people. Beyond communication, it embodies Indonesia’s identity, history, and cultural legacy.

Takeaways

• 📜 The Indonesian language has a long history, tracing back over 1,000 years to ancient inscriptions like the Kedukan Bukit inscription of 683 AD.
• 🌏 Malay served as a lingua franca in the archipelago, used by traders, sailors, and kingdoms for its simplicity and accessibility.
• 🏰 From the 13th to 19th century, classical Malay flourished under the Srivijaya and Malacca Sultanates for trade, diplomacy, literature, and the spread of Islam.
• 🖋️ The Jawi (Arabic) script was commonly used for writing Malay during the classical period.
• 🇳🇱 Dutch colonial attempts to replace Malay with Dutch failed because Dutch was difficult for the local population to learn.
• ✍️ Two forms of Malay emerged: low Malay for daily communication and high Malay for literary and educational purposes, forming the basis of modern Indonesian.
• 🤝 On October 28, 1928, during the 2nd Youth Congress, the Youth Pledge officially recognized Malay as Indonesian, emphasizing unity across all ethnic groups.
• 🎉 After Indonesia's independence on August 17, 1945, Indonesian was established as the official national language under Article 36 of the 1945 Constitution.
• 🗣️ Today, Indonesian is spoken by over 270 million people and continues to evolve, incorporating words from foreign languages, technology, and popular culture.
• 🌟 Indonesian is not only a means of communication but also a symbol of national unity, independence, and identity, connecting past, present, and future generations.

Q & A

When and where was the earliest known inscription using ancient Malay found?

The earliest known inscription using ancient Malay was the Kedukan Bukit inscription, found in Palembang in 683 AD.

Why did Malay become a common language in the archipelago during ancient times?

Malay became common because it was simple, easy to understand, and could be used by traders, sailors, and kingdoms to communicate across different tribes and regions.

What was classical Malay and during which period did it develop?

Classical Malay was the evolved form of Malay used between the 13th and 19th centuries, flourishing under the Srivijaya Empire and the Malacca Sultanate, and it was used for trade, diplomacy, religion, and literature.

How was the Jawi Arabic script connected to the Malay language?

During the classical Malay period, the Jawi Arabic script was popularly used to write Malay, especially in religious, literary, and administrative contexts.

Why did the Dutch fail to establish their language in Indonesia?

Dutch failed to become the people's language because it was difficult to learn, and the Malay language remained widely used in public schools, newspapers, and daily interactions.

What are Low Malay and High Malay?

Low Malay was used by the general public for everyday communication, while High Malay was used in literary and educational works. These two forms later contributed to the development of modern Indonesian.

What was the Youth Pledge of 1928 and why was it significant for the Indonesian language?

The Youth Pledge, made on October 28, 1928, was a declaration by young people from various regions to uphold Indonesian as the language of unity. It marked the official renaming of Malay to Indonesian as the national language.

When was Indonesian officially designated as the state language?

Indonesian was officially designated as the state language when Indonesia declared independence on August 17, 1945, as stated in Article 36 of the 1945 Constitution.

How does the Indonesian language continue to evolve today?

Indonesian continues to evolve by absorbing vocabulary from foreign languages, technology, popular culture, and modern terms, while remaining simple and accessible.

Why is the Indonesian language considered a symbol of national identity?

Indonesian is a symbol of independence, unity, and national identity because it has historically unified diverse ethnic groups, served as a medium of communication, and represents the nation's cultural heritage and struggle for independence.

Approximately how many people speak Indonesian today?

Today, Indonesian is spoken by more than 270 million people throughout the country.