Why Does Indonesia Have Many Languages? Here's the Answer

TheIndonesia.co - Besides the Indonesian language called “Bahasa Indonesia”, this country has so many other local languages. Currently, there are about 700 languages living in Indonesia.

So, it's no wonder why we could hear so many different languages when we visit this country. But, why does Indonesia have many languages? Let’s check this out!

Languages Spoken in Indonesia

It’s about 700 languages living in Indonesia, and this number doesn’t include other languages that went extinct.

Indonesian language or Bahasa Indonesia is spoken by most Indonesian people as their second language since it is a unifying language. Declared in the Youth Pledge on October 1928, Bahasa Indonesia is the lingua franca of Indonesians. Therefore, most of the people here can speak this language. However, old people living in the village or rural areas for a long time may find it difficult to understand and speak the language.

In some areas in Indonesia, they use the local language to speak in everyday conversation. The most widely used and most popular regional languages include Javanese, Minangkabau, Sundanese, Batak, and many more.

Why There Are Many Languages in Indonesia

Indonesia is well-known as the biggest archipelagic country in the world. That is, Indonesia consists of many islands that are separated from each other.

One island and other islands have different races or tribes. Meanwhile, each tribe has a unique language. Since Indonesia has so many tribes, it’s no wonder why it has so many languages as well.

Even one local language can also have some diverse dialects. For example, the Javanese language has many dialects. Spoken in large areas such East Java, Central Java, or Yogyakarta, this local language is spoken in different dialects. Besides, it also has differences in terms of vocabulary. It’s interesting, right?