Here’s my favorite fact: there’s a language called Kodia with only about 80 speakers left. It’s spoken in a tiny village on the island of Sumba, and it has a word for “the feeling of eating rice that’s a little bit burnt.” That’s poetry. Meanwhile, on Papua (half the island of New Guinea), there are languages that only have numbers up to five. Need to say “seven”? Just point to your three fingers and say “five plus two.” Works great unless you’re an accountant.
What is Language in Indonesia: An Overview of the Indonesian Language
Oh, and don’t forget Indonesian Sign Language (BISINDO). It’s not the same as American Sign Language. One sign for “mother” in BISINDO looks like you’re rocking a baby; in ASL, it looks like you’re tapping your chin. Confuse them, and you might accidentally call your mom a goat. I’ve never tried it, but I’m guessing it’s awkward.
The Grand Illusion
So when you visit Indonesia, remember: the person serving your nasi goreng might be fluent in three languages, curse in four, and secretly dream in a fifth. Don’t assume they’re “native Indonesian speakers.” There’s no such thing. They’re native Javanese, Batak, Minang, or Dayak speakers who learned the national language as a second tongue. And they’re probably laughing at you for pointing at a menu and saying “ini, ini” (this, this) like a caveman.
But here’s the moral of the story: language in Indonesia is a party. Everyone is invited, nobody knows all the steps, and you just dance along. If you ever get lost, just smile, say “Maaf, saya tidak bisa bahasa” (Sorry, I can’t the language), and they’ll either switch to English or hand you a coconut. Either way, you win.
