A short presentation of the Indonesian language
Bahasa Indonesia is the official language of Indonesia. It is a form of the Malay language, which is also spoken in the Republic of East Timor. However, it is not the mother tongue of most Indonesians, who only start to learn it at school at the age of five. Most Indonesians are bilingual or even trilingual. In fact, 700 languages are spoken in Indonesia and it is the second largest reservoir of languages in the world. Using the Latin alphabet, most of the syllables are pronounced as in English and the vocabulary is fairly simple, which makes learning much easier than for other Asian languages.
Why learn the Indonesian language?
When travelling, it is always a good idea to learn a few of the basics of the language out of politeness and respect, but also to be able to get by in different situations and to be able to communicate with the locals. By speaking Indonesian during a trip to the country you will be considered less of a tourist, be able to negotiate prices better and get more out of your trip. The Indonesian language is a relatively simple. Take a small dictionary or download an application on your phone and learn a few words every during your stay in Indonesia. You will soon see that you enjoy learning and your travel experience will be improved! There are many other languages in the country, but everybody understands Bahasa Indonesia and you'll be able to easily make yourself understood on all the islands, even if they make fun of you if you speak with the accent of another island!
