English has evolved into a global language used in increasingly multilingual societies. In Indonesia, however, English has developed its own characteristics shaped by local languages and cultural backgrounds. Indonesians tend to bring local values of politeness into English communication, reflected in how they express opinions, apologize, and maintain interpersonal relationships.
“The English used by Indonesians has distinctive features influenced by Indonesian and regional languages,” said Professor Aris Munandar, a lecturer at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences Universitas Gadjah Mada, during his professorial inauguration at Universitas Gadjah Mada on Thursday (May 7) at the Senate Hall.
During his inauguration as Professor of English Pragmatics, he delivered a speech titled Kompetensi Pragmatik Bahasa Inggris dalam Konteks Masyarakat Multilingual Indonesia (Pragmatic Competence in English within the Context of Indonesia’s Multilingual Society).
Professor Aris explained that English is no longer owned by a particular group of countries, but has evolved into an international language used by people from diverse cultural backgrounds. In the Indonesian context, the use of English is also influenced by people’s social experiences, cultural backgrounds, and everyday communication practices.
Furthermore, Professor Aris argued that the diversity of English usage across countries should be understood as part of today’s global communication reality. He noted that English-learning orientations that focus too heavily on native-speaker standards often lead other varieties to be viewed as less appropriate. In fact, international communication today frequently occurs among speakers from non-English-speaking countries. In such situations, the ability to understand cultural contexts and communication strategies becomes highly important.
“English is no longer a monolingual language, but a pluralistic one,” said Professor Aris.
Professor Aris also highlighted Indonesia’s status as a multilingual country, with hundreds of regional languages coexisting. This condition has shaped a society accustomed to negotiating linguistic and cultural differences for generations.
The experience of living in a multilingual environment is believed to influence how Indonesians use English. Professor Aris stated that Indonesian communication patterns tend to prioritize harmony, solidarity, and social closeness.
“Positive politeness strategies tend to be more prevalent in Indonesia,” he explained.
Nevertheless, views that place certain varieties of English as the primary standard in English learning and proficiency testing remain strong. He pointed to the use of international English tests, which generally still refer to norms from native-speaker countries.
According to him, this situation causes English varieties developing in other countries to receive less attention. In fact, forms of English usage in different countries continue to evolve according to their respective social and cultural contexts.
“The variety of English spoken by Indonesians still receives limited attention,” he remarked.
According to Professor Aris, understanding pragmatics and intercultural communication is essential for building more effective global interactions. He believes English proficiency should not be measured solely by grammatical accuracy but also by the ability to understand interlocutors’ social contexts.
In international communication, individuals need to adapt their language choices to different cultural situations. Therefore, he encouraged a more inclusive approach to English learning that embraces diverse communication practices.
“Indonesians should not be trapped in a monolingual orientation,” he concluded.
Author: Triya Andriyani
Post-editor: Jasmine Ferdian
Photo: Donnie