Today, English is truly regarded as an international language. It is the most widely-learned and spoken second or foreign language in many countries. In recent years, the number of second and foreign language speakers has far exceeded the number of first language speakers of English. This dramatic change, many have argued, should be taken into…

Explores the widespread acceptance of Bahasa Indonesian as the single national and official language of Indonesia. The discussion focuses on the political, sociocultural, and linguistic forces that have created the strong bond between the language and Indonesians' sense of national identity, and on Indonesia's successful policy of maintaining its…

Describes the institution of Bahasa Indonesia as the state language of Indonesia. Discusses the use of Indonesian, 400+ vernaculars, and foreign languages in the country; the implementation of state language policy through formal and nonformal language education; and the rise of bilingualism in Indonesia. (DMM)