Modernism, Foreign Languages, and the Colonial Legacy in Indonesia

In contemporary Indonesia, fluency in foreign languages, especially English, is widely perceived as a hallmark of advancement. Schools are increasingly establishing bilingual programs, parents take pride in their children's English "good morning" over Indonesian greetings, and academic institutions often use foreign language proficiency as a metric for intellectual capacity.

The article acknowledges that learning foreign languages is inherently valuable. In our interconnected world, mastering international languages is a practical necessity. However, it raises concerns when foreign languages transcend their role as mere communication tools and become symbols of cultural superiority and the primary measure of modernity.

This perspective is not new. Historically, it is deeply intertwined with Western colonialism and modernism. European powers, from the 16th to the early 20th centuries, not only expanded their territories and trade but also exported their ideologies, educational systems, scientific knowledge, and languages. Modernity was equated with Europe, while non-European societies were categorized as "traditional" or "underdeveloped." Education served as a key colonial instrument, instilling the notion that legitimate knowledge originated from the West and that colonial languages were the keys to social mobility, employment, and power.

Colonial powers understood that language mastery equated to thought control. When a society begins to view foreign languages as more prestigious than its own, it signifies a "colonization of consciousness." The article prompts a re-evaluation of why foreign languages are learned: Is it to broaden horizons and access global knowledge, or is it a lingering belief that all things foreign are inherently more modern, intelligent, and valuable? Historical evidence suggests that English spread not solely due to linguistic merit but as a consequence of the political and economic might of the British Empire, a dominance later continued by economic and technological influence.