As Indonesian citizens, have we understood and known the language we use every day? Indonesian is the national language used by the Indonesian people in their daily lives. This language has an important role in uniting the Indonesian nation which has a diversity of cultures and languages.

The use of Indonesian can be freely used by language users, either orally, in writing, or kinesics. However, the use of this variety of Indonesian is also influenced by the geographical location and culture of the community. This causes differences in the use of Indonesian in various regions.

Nevertheless, Indonesian remains the language of unity, as stated in the Youth Pledge text of October 28, 1928. This Youth Pledge is a point of affirmation of the identity of the Indonesian nation and unites the plurality of languages ​​in Indonesia.

However, today, the language of nationalism seems to be displaced by the entry of various foreign languages ​​into Indonesia. Many Indonesian people are not confident in their identity as the Indonesian nation. This causes Indonesian people to prefer using foreign languages ​​rather than Indonesian.

In fact, Indonesian is a language that is rich in culture and has important values ​​in uniting the Indonesian nation. The use of good and correct Indonesian needs to be cultivated and learned every day. As Indonesian citizens, it is fitting that we protect and preserve Indonesian in our lives.

One of the challenges in Indonesian is "Language Inferiority". This term refers to a phenomenon that often occurs in Indonesia. Many Indonesian people feel inferior when using Indonesian, especially when interacting with foreigners or using a foreign language.

This is caused by several factors, such as lack of knowledge about Indonesian, lack of use of Indonesian in everyday life, and lack of awareness of the importance of Indonesian as a national language.

This language inferiority can have a negative impact on the identity of the Indonesian nation. When Indonesian people feel inferior when using Indonesian, they will be more likely to use a foreign language and abandon Indonesian.

This can lead to the loss of Indonesian national identity and loss of awareness of the importance of Indonesian as a national language. To increase the use of Indonesian and reduce language inferiority, several strategies can be carried out, such as:

1. Increasing knowledge of Indonesian through education and training.
2. Increase the use of Indonesian in everyday life, such as in communicating with others, writing letters, and making reports.
3. Increase awareness of the importance of Indonesian as a national language through campaigns and promotions.
4. Develop programs that support the use of Indonesian, such as Indonesian language programs for children and Indonesian language programs for adults.

By implementing these strategies, we can increase the use of Indonesian and reduce language inferiority. Therefore, it is fitting that we participate in increasing the use of Indonesian and developing awareness of the importance of Indonesian as a national language.

Author: Hilya Maylaffayza

Image Source: Kompasiana