Indonesian language facts for kids

The Indonesian language (called Bahasa Indonesia in Indonesian) is the official language of Indonesia. It's a special version of the Malay language. This language is spoken by people all over Indonesia. While it comes from Malay, there are some differences between Indonesian and the Malay spoken in countries like Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore.

Many people in Indonesia learn Indonesian as a second language. This is because they often speak a local language at home, like Javanese. But when it comes to school, news, or talking with people from other parts of Indonesia, everyone uses Bahasa Indonesia.

The official name for the language is Bahasa Indonesia. This means "language of Indonesia." People often just call it "Indonesian" in English.

Why Indonesian is Important

Indonesian is very important for uniting the country. Indonesia is made up of many islands and has hundreds of different local languages. Having one main language helps everyone communicate.

A Language for Everyone

Even though many Indonesians speak a regional language first, almost everyone learns Indonesian. It is taught in all schools. This helps people from different islands understand each other. It also helps build a strong national identity.

Indonesian in Daily Life

You will find Indonesian used everywhere in Indonesia. It is the language of education, so all school subjects are taught in Indonesian. It is also the language of media, like TV, radio, and newspapers. When people communicate across the country, they use Indonesian. This makes it a vital part of daily life for millions.

History of the Indonesian Language

The Indonesian language has a long and interesting history. It developed from the Malay language, which was used for trade in Southeast Asia for many centuries.

Old Malay Language

Long ago, a version of Malay called Old Malay was spoken in many parts of the region. It was used by traders and travelers. This helped the language spread far and wide. The oldest writings in Old Malay have been found in places like South Sumatra. These old texts show how the language has changed over time.

The Youth Pledge

A very important moment for the Indonesian language happened in 1928. Young people from across Indonesia came together. They made a promise called the Youth Pledge. One part of this promise was to have one unifying language for all of Indonesia. That language was Indonesian. This pledge helped make Indonesian the national language.

Indonesian Words and Other Languages

Indonesian has borrowed words from many other languages. This shows how Indonesia has connected with different cultures over time.

Words from Dutch

Indonesia was once a colony of the Netherlands. Because of this, many Indonesian words come from Dutch. For example, the Indonesian word for "movie theater" is bioskop, which comes from the Dutch word bioscoop.

Words from Portuguese

Before the Dutch, the Portuguese were also in Indonesia. So, some Indonesian words come from Portuguese. The Indonesian word for "church," gereja, comes from the Portuguese word igreja. This shows the mix of influences on the language.

Learning Indonesian

For people who want to learn Indonesian, there are special programs. These programs are called BIPA, which stands for Bahasa Indonesia untuk Penutur Asing. This means "Indonesian for Foreign Speakers." These programs help people from other countries learn the language.

Images for kids

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  Rencong alphabet, an old writing system from Sumatra.

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  The Kedukan Bukit Inscription, an old writing in Old Malay.

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  An inscription from Hujung Langit, showing old writing.

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  The Youth Pledge in 1928, where Indonesian was declared a unifying language.

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  Road signs in an airport terminal in Indonesia.

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  A toll gate in Bali with Indonesian words.

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  Indonesian language on a bus advertisement in Jakarta.

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  A map showing where Indonesian is used for business and taught in schools.

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  Indonesian is used in magazines and other mass media.

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  Indonesian is used in schools across the country.

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  The word "Gereja" (Church) comes from Portuguese.

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  The word bioskop (movie theater) comes from Dutch.

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  A BIPA book, which helps foreigners learn Indonesian.

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  An old Indonesian Rupiah banknote.

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  An Indonesian-language calendar.

See also

In Spanish: Idioma indonesio para niños