Languages of Indonesia

More than 700 living languages are spoken in Indonesia. Most belong to the Austronesian language family, with a few Papuan languages also spoken. The official language is Indonesian (locally known as Bahasa Indonesia), a variant of Malay, which was used in the archipelago, — borrowing heavily from local languages of Indonesia such as Javanese, Sundanese and Minangkabau. The Indonesian language is primarily used in commerce, administration, education and the media, but most Indonesians speak other languages, such as Javanese, as their first language. Most books printed in Indonesia are written in the Indonesian language.

Since Indonesia only recognises a single official language, other languages are not recognised either at the national level or the regional level, thus making Javanese the most widely spoken language without official status, and Sundanese the second in the list (excluding Chinese dialects).

Languages by speakers

Main article: List of languages by number of native speakers in Indonesia

Several major ethno-linguistic groups of Indonesia

Largest languages in Indonesia
(Figures indicate numbers of native speakers except for the national language, Indonesian)

Language	Number (millions)	Year surveyed	Main areas where spoken
Indonesian/Malay	210	2010	throughout Indonesia
Javanese	84.3	2000 (census)	Northern Banten, Northern West Java, Yogyakarta, Central Java and East Java
Sundanese	34.0	2000 (census)	West Java, Banten
Madurese	13.6	2000 (census)	Madura Island (East Java)
Minangkabau	5.5	2007	West Sumatra, Riau
Musi (Palembang Malay)	3.9	2000 (census)	South Sumatra
Manado Malay (Minahasan)	3.8	2001	Minahasa, North Sulawesi
Bugis	3.5	1991	South Sulawesi
Banjarese	3.5	2000 (census)	South Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan
Acehnese	3.5	2000 (census)	Aceh
Balinese	3.3	2000 (census)	Bali Island and Lombok Island
Betawi	2.7	1993	Jakarta
Sasak	2.1	1989	Lombok Island (West Nusa Tenggara)
Batak Toba	2.0	1991	North Sumatra
Ambonese Malay	1.9	1987	Maluku
Makassarese	1.6	1989	South Sulawesi
Batak Dairi	1.2	1991	North Sumatra
Batak Simalungun	1.2	2000 (census)	North Sumatra
Batak Mandailing	1.1	2000 (census)	North Sumatra
Hokkien Chinese	1.0	2000	North Sumatra, Riau, Riau Islands
Jambi Malay	1.0	2000 (census)	Jambi
Mongondow	0.9	1989	North Sulawesi
Gorontalo	0.9	1989	Gorontalo (province)
Ngaju Dayak	0.9	2003	Southern Kalimantan
Nias	0.8	2000 (census)	Nias Island, North Sumatra
Batak Angkola	0.7	1991	North Sumatra
North Moluccan Malay	0.7	2001	North Maluku
Min Nan Chinese	0.7	1982	Northern Sumatra, Riau, Riau Islands and West Kalimantan
Hakka Chinese	0.6	1982	Bangka Belitung, Riau Islands and West Kalimantan
Batak Karo	0.6	1991	North Sumatra
Uab Meto	0.6	1997	West Timor (East Nusa Tenggara)
Bima	0.5	1989	Sumbawa Island (West Nusa Tenggara)
Manggarai	0.5	1989	Flores Island (East Nusa Tenggara)
Toraja-Sa’dan	0.5	1990	South Sulawesi, West Sulawesi
Komering	0.5	2000 (census)	South Sumatra
Tetum	0.4	2004	West Timor (East Nusa Tenggara)
Rejang	0.4	2000 (census)	Bengkulu
Muna	0.3	1989	Southeast Sulawesi
Basa Semawa	0.3	1989	Sumbawa Island (West Nusa Tenggara)
Bangka	0.3	2000 (census)	Bangka Island (Bangka Belitung)
Osing	0.3	2000 (census)	East Java
Gayo	0.3	2000 (census)	Aceh
Cantonese	0.3	2000	North Sumatera, Riau Islands, Jakarta
Tolaki	0.3	1991	Southeast Sulawesi
Lewotobi	0.3	2000	Flores Island (East Nusa Tenggara)
Tae’	0.3	1992	South Sulawesi

Comparison chart

Indonesian languages

Below is a chart of several Indonesian languages. Most of them belong to Austronesian languages family. While there has been misunderstandings on which ones should be classified as language and which ones should be classified as dialect, the chart confirms that most have similarities, yet are not mutually comprehensible. These languages are arranged according to the numbers of native speakers.

English	one	two	three	four	water	person	house	dog	coconut	day	new	we (inclusive)	what	and
Kutainese	satu	due	tige	empat	ranam	urang	rumah	koyok	nyiur	hari	beru	etam	apa	dengan
Indonesian/ Malay	satu	dua	tiga	empat	air	orang	rumah	anjing	kelapa	hari	baru	kita	apa	dan
Javanese	siji	loro	têlu	papat	banyu	uwòng	omah	asu	kambìl	dinå	anyar/énggal	adhéwé	åpå/anu	lan
Sundanese	hiji	dua	tilu	opat	cai/ci	jalma	imah	anjing	kalapa	poé	anyar	urang	naon	jeung
Madurese	settong	dhuwa'	tello'	empa'	âên	oreng	roma	pate'	nyior	are	anyar	sengko	apa	ban
Minangkabau	cie'	duo	tigo	ampe'	aie	urang	rumah	anjiang	karambia	hari	baru	awak	apo	jo
Palembang Malay	sikok	duo	tigo	empat	banyu	wong	rumah	anjing	kelapo	siang	baru	kito	apo	dan
Buginese	seqdi	dua	tellu	eppa	je'ne'	tau	bola	asu	kaluku	esso	ma-baru	idiq	aga	na
Banjarese	asa	dua	talu	ampat	banyu	urang	rumah	hadupan	nyiur	hari	hanyar	kita	apa	wan
Acehnese	sa	dua	lhèë	peuët	ië	ureuëng	rumoh	asèë	u	uroë	ban	geutanyoë	peuë	ngon
Balinese	sa	dadua	telu	patpat	yèh	anak	umah	cicing	nyuh	dina	mara	iraga	apa	muah
Betawi	atu'	due	tige	empat	aer	orang	rumeh	anjing	kelape	ari	baru	kite	ape	ame
Sasak	sa/seke'	due	telu	mpat	aik	dengan	bale	acong/basong	kenyamen/nyioh	jelo	baru	ite	ape	dait
Batak Toba	sada	dua	tolu	opat	aek	halak	jabu	biang	harambiri	ari	ibbaru	hita	aha	dohot
Ambonese Malay	satu	dua	tiga	ampa	air	orang	ruma	anjing	kalapa	hari	baru	katong	apa	dan
Makassarese	se're	rua	tallu	appa'	je'ne'	tau	balla'	kongkong	kaluku	allo	beru	ikatte	apa	na
Batak Mandailing	sada	dua	tolu	opat	aek	halak	bagas	asu	arambir	ari	baru	hita	aha	dohot
Mongondow	inta'	dua	tolu	opat	tubig	intau	baloi	ungku'	cekut	singgai	mo-bagu	kita	onda	bo
Manado Malay	satu	dua	tiga	ampa	aer	orang	ruma	anjing	kalapa	hari	baru	torang	apa	deng
Dayak Ngaju	ije'	due'	telu'	epat	danum	uluh	huma'	asu	enyuh	andau	haru	itah	narai	en
Lampung	say	ʁuwa	telu	ampat	way	jelema	nuwa	asu	nyiwi	ʁani	ampai	ʁam	api	jama
Tolaki	o'aso	o'ruo	o'tolu	o'omba	iwoi	toono	laika	odahu	sanggore	oleo	wuohu	inggito	ohawo	ronga
Nias	sara	dua	tölu	öfa	idanö	niha	omo	asu	banio	luo	bohou	ya'ita	hadia	ba

Challenge

Main article: List of endangered languages in Indonesia

There are 726 languages spoken across the Indonesian archipelago in 2009 (dropped from 742 languages in 2007), the largest multilingual population in the world only after Papua New Guinea. Indonesian Papua which adjacent with Papua New Guinea has the most languages in Indonesia. Based on the EGIDS classification used by Ethnologue (formerly the Summer Institute of Linguistics), 63 languages are dying (shown in red on the bar chart, and subdivided into Moribund, Nearly Extinct, or Dormant), which is defined as "The only fluent users (if any) are older than child-bearing age, so it is too late to restore natural intergenerational transmission through the home."

Language education policy

Indonesia's Minister of Education and Culture Muhammad Nuh affirmed in January 2013 that the teaching of local languages as school subjects will be part of the national education curriculum. Nuh stated that much of the public worry about the teaching of local languages being left out of the curriculum is misplaced and that the new curriculum will be conveyed to them.

Languages by family

Several prominent languages spoken in Indonesia sorted by language family are:

• Austronesian languages – (Malayo-Polynesian branch). Most languages spoken in Indonesia belong to this family, which in return are related to languages spoken in Madagascar, Philippines, New Zealand, Hawaii and various Polynesian countries.
  • Javanese language, spoken in Yogyakarta, Central Java and East Java. Also found throughout Indonesia and by migrants in Suriname. Most populous Austronesian language by number of first language speaker.
  • Lampung language, two distinct but closely related languages spoken in Lampung, South Sumatra and Banten.
  • Rejang language, spoken in Bengkulu province.
  • Malayo-Sumbawan languages:
    • Malay/Indonesian languages, spoken throughout Indonesia. Also used as national language.
    • Acehnese language, spoken in Aceh, especially coastal part of Sumatra island.
    • Minangkabau language, spoken in West Sumatra.
    • Banjar language, spoken in South, East, and Central Kalimantan.
    • Sundanese language, spoken in West Java, Banten and Jakarta.
    • Balinese language, spoken in Bali.
    • Madurese language, spoken in Madura, Bawean and surrounding islands off the coast of Java.
    • Sasak language, spoken in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara.
  • Barito languages:
    • Ma'anyan language, related to Malagasy language spoken in Madagascar.
  • Northwest Sumatran languages:
    • Batak languages, seven closely related languages spoken by the Batak people in the highlands of North Sumatra.
    • Nias language, in Nias island off the western coast of North Sumatra.
    • Simeulue language, in Simeulue island off the western coast of Aceh.
    • Gayo language, in Gayo highlands in central Aceh.
  • South Sulawesi languages:
    • Bugis language, spoken by Bugis in central South Sulawesi and neighbouring provinces.
    • Makassarese language, spoken by Makassarese in southern end of South Sulawesi.
    • Toraja language, spoken by Toraja people in northern highland of South Sulawesi.
    • Mandar language, spoken in West Sulawesi.
  • Philippine languages:
    • Gorontalo language, spoken in Gorontalo province.
    • Mongondow language, spoken in western part of North Sulawesi.
    • Minahasan languages, spoken in eastern part of North Sulawesi.
    • Sangihe languages, spoken in northern islands part of North Sulawesi.
  • Enggano language of Sumatra is unclassified
• West Papuan languages, indigenous languages family found only in eastern Indonesia (northern Maluku and western Papua). Not closely related with other language families. Distinct from surrounding Austronesian languages.
  • Ternate language, spoken in Ternate and northern Halmahera.
  • Tidore language, spoken in Tidore and western Halmahera, closely related with above Ternate language.
• Trans–New Guinea languages, indigenous languages family found in eastern Indonesia (Papua, Flores, Timor islands) and New Guinea. Consisting hundreds of languages, including languages of the Asmat and Dani people.
• Mairasi languages (4)
• East Cenderawasih (Geelvink Bay) languages (10)
• Lakes Plain languages (19; upper Mamberamo River)
• Tor–Kwerba languages (17)
• Nimboran languages (5)
• Skou languages (Skou)
• Border languages (15)
• Senagi languages (2)
• Pauwasi languages

There are many additional small families and isolates among the Papuan languages.

Sign languages

• Indonesian Sign Language
  • Yogyakarta Sign Language
  • Jakarta Sign Language
• Kata Kolok

Writing system

Like most writing systems in human history, Indonesia's are not rendered in native-invented systems, but devised by speakers of Tamil, Arabic, and Latin. Malay, for example, has a long history as a written language and has been rendered in Indic, Arabic, and Latin scripts. Javanese has been written in the Pallava script of South India, as well as their derivative (known as Kawi and Javanese), in an Arabic alphabet called pegon that incorporates Javanese sounds, and in the Latin script.

Chinese characters have never been used to write Indonesian languages, although Indonesian place-names, personal names, and names of trade goods appear in reports and histories written for China's imperial courts.

List of writing systems

• Latin - The official writing system of Indonesian, most Indonesian languages now adopt Latin script.
• Rencong - A Brahmic-based script, formerly used by Malays before the arrival of Islam, which introduced the Jawi script.
• Sundanese - A Brahmic-based script, use by Sundanese to write Sundanese language, although Sundanese also have a standard Latin orthography.
• Jawi/Pegon - An Arabic-based script, once widely used throughout Indonesia, now in decline but still use by Malays, Minangkabau, Banjarese, Acehnese and Javanese (which has its own form of Arabic known as Pegon.)
• Javanese - A Brahmic-based script use by the Javanese and related peoples, today the script is in rapid decline and largely supplanted by Latin.
• Kawi script - The oldest known Brahmic writing system in Indonesia and the ancestor to all Brahmic based writing systems in Insular Southeast Asia.
• Balinese - A Brahmic-based script use by the Balinese people to write Balinese, it is closely related to Javanese script.
• Rejang - A Brahmic-based script use by the Rejang people of Bengkulu, Sumatra. It is closely related to Kerinci, Lampung and Rencong script.
• Kerinci (Kaganga) - A Brahmic-based script use by the Kerincis to write their language.
• Batak - A Brahmic-based script, use by the Batak people of North Sumatra.
• Lontara - A Brahmic-based script, use by the Buginese in Sulawesi.
• Lampungese - A Brahmic-based script, still use by Lampung people to write Lampung language, although they are in rapid decline. Lampung script is closely related to Rencong, Kerinci and Rejang script.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 1) in Languages of Indonesia

English translation:

(All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, they are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.)

• Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia)

Semua orang dilahirkan merdeka dan mempunyai martabat dan hak-hak yang sama. Mereka dikaruniai akal dan hati nurani dan hendaknya bergaul satu sama lain dalam semangat persaudaraan.

• Javanese (Boso Jowo)

Sabên wong kalairake kaṇṭi mardika lan darbe martabat lan hak-hak kang paḍa. Kabeh pinaringan akal lan kalbu sarta kaajab pasrawungan anggone mêmitran siji lan sijine kaṇṭi jiwa sumadulur

• Malay (Bahasa Melayu)

Semua manusia dilahirkan bebas dan samarata dari segi kemuliaan dan hak-hak. Mereka mempunyai pemikiran dan perasaan hati dan hendaklah bertindak di antara satu sama lain dengan semangat persaudaraan.

• Minangkabau (Baso Minangkabau)

Sadonyo manusia dilahiakan mardeka dan punyo martabat sarato hak-hak nan samo. Mareka dikaruniai aka jo hati nurani, supayo satu samo lain bagaul sarupo urang badunsanak.

• Buginese (Basa Ugi)

Sininna rupa tau ri jajiangngi rilinoe nappunnai manengngi riasengnge alebbireng . Nappunai riasengnge akkaleng, nappunai riasengnge ati marennni na sibole bolena pada sipakatau pada massalasureng.

• Balinese (Basa Bali)

Sami manusane sane nyruwadi wantah merdeka tur maduwe kautamaan lan hak-hak sane pateh. Sami kalugrain papineh lan idep tur mangdane pada masawitra melarapan semangat pakulawargaan.

• Sundanese (Basa Sunda)

Sakumna jalma gubrag ka alam dunya teh sifatna merdika jeung boga martabat katut hak-hak anu sarua. Maranehna dibere akal jeung hate nurani, campur-gaul jeung sasamana aya dina sumanget duduluran.

• Madurese (Basa Madura)

Sadajana oreng lahir mardika e sarenge drajat klaban hak-hak se dha-padha. Sadajana eparenge akal sareng nurani ban kodu areng-sareng akanca kadi taretan.

• Acehnese (Bahsa Acèh)

Bandum ureuëng lahé deungon meurdéhka, dan deungon martabat dan hak njang saban. Ngon akai geuseumiké, ngon haté geumeurasa, bandum geutanjoë lagèë sjèëdara. Hak dan keumuliaan.

• Tetum (Lia-Tetun)

Ema hotu hotu moris hanesan ho dignidade ho direitu. Sira hotu iha hanoin, konsiensia n'e duni tenki hare malu hanesan espiritu maun-alin.

• Dawan (Uab Metô)

Atoni ma bife ok-okê mahonis kamafutû ma nmuî upan ma hak namnés. Sin napein tenab ma nekmeü ma sin musti nabai es nok es onlê olif-tataf.

Kanan mansian mahonis merdeka ma nok upan ma hak papmesê. Sin naheun nok tenab ma nekmeû ma sin es nok es musti nfain onlê olif-tataf.

• Banjar (Bahasa Banjar)

Sabarataan manusia diranakakan bibas mardika wan ba'isi martabat lawan jua ba'isi hak-hak nang sama. Bubuhannya sabarataan dibari'i akal wan jua pangrasa hati nurani, supaya samunyaan urang antara sa'ikung lawan sa'ikung bapatutan nangkaya urang badangsanakan.

• Lampung (Bahasa Lampung)

Unyin Jelema dilaheʁko merdeka jama wat pi'il ʁik hak sai gokgoh. Tiyan dikaruniako akal jama hati nurani maʁai unggal tiyan dapok nengah nyampoʁ dilom semangat muaʁiyan.

External links

• Graph of Indonesian ethnolinguistics
• Linguistic maps of Indonesia
• How many people speak Indonesian?