Enamoured with the Indonesian Language

Monday, Tempo Interactive, 03 November, 2008 | 20:42 WIB 

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: People from provinces in Indonesia last Friday crowded to get a new handout distributed at the IX Indonesian Language Congress at the Bumi Karsa Hotel in Jakarta. 

Among the crowd, a white, blond-haired man asked, “What is being distributed?” He was seen to be conscientiously attending the language congress. 

His name is Jan van der Host, around 60 years old. He listened intently to the presentations at the session, and was very spirited when he presented his paper titled, "Geological Elements in Indonesia Fairy Tales.” He was profuse in his greetings to participants during breaks between sessions at the conference. 

“I want to learn Indonesian,” said van der Host. The retired civil servant from Velsen in the Netherlands, said he had accelerated his retirement just to be able to study at Leiden University. 

He always took time to attend any events and activities relating to the Indonesian language. This time he spent 1.050 Euros from his savings to buy a return ticket to Indonesia. “The Indonesian language is used by all Indonesians, it is a language of unity,” Host praised. 

The congress, titled “Indonesian Language Creates Intelligent, Competitive Indonesians Based on The Nation’s Sense of Civilization, ” was attended by participants from overseas. 

Some of the participants came from France, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Germany, Korea and Singapore. German national Jan Budweg is a graduate of Humberg University. 

The 36 year-old Jan Budweg, who used to study at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, was invited to speak on “Indonesian Films’ Translation Subtitles in Teaching Indonesian to Non-Native Speakers.” I like the Indonesian language” said Budweg, who forked out 800 Euros to attend the congress. 

Meanwhile Karen Bailey from Australia said she loves the Indonesian language so much that she set up the Perth Indonesia Language Hall. In fluent Indonesian, Bailey was not shy about calling for the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Department to support her foundation. 

“Please help us in Perth so that interest in the Indonesian language can grow,” she said. The officials present smiled and nodded. 

RUMBADI DALLE