We need to get to know each other better, and we will realize that we have a lot in common.
Patrick J. Mahoney
After working in Indonesia as an English teacher a few years ago, I recently decided to go back and take a leisurely trip around Java. I studied Indonesian and experienced the cultural diversity of Indonesia. I also wanted to test my communication skills, as I can express my basic needs in Indonesian. In summary, my trip lasted two months, and I’m not sure I learned much by the time I left Jakarta, other than being exhausted, not having enough language skills to do my job, and having difficulty understanding replies for various reasons.
I traveled Java from east to west, all the way to Jakarta, by bus, train and ojek (motorcycle carrier). This meant I spent a lot of time talking to sopils (drivers) and people in warungs (cafes) and losmen. Despite having studied Indonesian for about 20 years, I was not able to reliably understand or be understood on my travels. At my spending level (low), I am dealing with people who have very little education and therefore very little learning the language. Most people only learn Indonesian for the first time in school. It is rarely a first language and therein lies part of my problem. People probably grew up with the local language, then Indonesian (low), then a little bit of Indonesian.
it’s difficult
I didn’t feel there were many white people (boule) in Java, but children no longer stare at white people, and adults are deliberately indifferent. However, just as it was difficult for me to find someone to communicate with, it is difficult for Indonesian English learners to find someone to practice with.
From my experience teaching in an Islamic school (a Muslim school) like the local public school, I found that the level of learning, especially of languages like English, is very low and students are not encouraged to speak during class. Children learn many local languages by ear and are not necessarily aware of the difference. They may mix two or three languages without knowing it. In addition, there are problems of fluency and word omission for foreign listeners. Learners may also mispronounce words. If you mispronounce it a little, you will not be understood. I sat in the back seat of the ojek for nearly an hour, looking for Fame Hotel (the name I pronounced), until a friendly passerby said, “Do you mean Fam-e? (pronounced like “Farmer”)?” and it was fine from there.
But if you ask a question like “Is there kraton down there?” people are always happy to answer. “Yes” is the inevitable answer. Eventually you learn not to ask yes/no questions because the answer is always “yes”. They don’t like to say “no”. Make this white guy happy! Their standard question is “Where are you from?” and they often give you a few random suggestions in case you forget, like “Germany? Switzerland?” Many people I met in Malioboro, Yogyakarta, would respond with an Australian accent when I answered “Australia” to show off their language skills.
However, if your comprehension of spoken Indonesian is weak, it is not easy to find someone to talk to casually. Those who can understand will speak slowly and clearly. However, many are happy to talk but do not understand how difficult it is for visitors to understand the answer. On the other hand, many will ask questions. It may be tiring, but the effort to answer all questions is worth it. For them, each person is a new encounter, and because of their culture that values every encounter, and because of the strong premise of sopan santun, or politeness, they are reluctant to express negative emotions.
Need to learn
People sometimes bring prejudices from their home towns that should not be confused with reality. For example, women are often thought of as less assertive, but women play a strong role in the home as well as in local businesses. The female housekeepers at both of the two losmen I stayed at were eloquent and knowledgeable about Islam and local politics. While traditionally they may seem to be in the kitchen, women are also involved in entertainment and hospitality, and all the creative arts that draw us to Indonesia. However, I noticed that only a few of the warungs I frequented were run by women. There are many things about Indonesia that are very different from what we are used to. Whether we are visitors or residents to this great country, we need to get to know each other better. Then, in chance encounters or long-term relationships, we will realize that we have a lot in common in many ways. One thing that always touches me deeply is the love for our own children and other people’s children. Family is everything.
Without the means to communicate, there is little hope of penetrating another culture. In recent decades, Australia has fallen far behind in learning Asian languages. Language is culture. If we do not seek to learn Indonesian and do not force our children to learn it at school, we are limiting our chances of connecting with this wonderful, diverse and fascinating country. Indonesian is an easy language to learn, but a fascinating introduction to a rich history influenced by countless different cultures and languages. The Federal Government needs to step up its support to support the teaching of the national language of our nearest, largest and most important neighbour. Going to Indonesia with some knowledge of Indonesian language and culture will demonstrate a desire to build relationships, and they will respond in kind.
Pat Mahoney (padraic063@gmail.com) I am a long-term student of Indonesian language and culture. A former high school and ESL/EFL English teacher, he has taught English in various parts of the archipelago and recently returned from a two-month trip to Java, where he used the opportunity to test his ability to communicate with ordinary Indonesians, without much success.
