The English Language Education Department (ELED) at Universitas Kristen Duta Wacana (UKDW) Yogyakarta hosted a ‘Zoom Talk: Indonesian English and Southeast Asian Englishes’ on Saturday, November 18, 2023. This virtual event featured Ignatius Tri Endarto, S.Pd., M.A., a lecturer specializing in Introduction to Linguistics. The webinar was a collaborative effort with the Department of English and Applied Linguistics at De La Salle University of the Philippines, represented by Assoc. Prof. Shirley N. Dita, Ph.D. Participants from Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Pakistan joined the insightful discussion.
Assoc. Prof. Shirley N. Dita, Ph.D., began by shedding light on the evolving landscape of English in Southeast Asia. She emphasized that English in the region has transcended traditional American and British standards to evolve into distinct regional identities. “Southeast Asia boasts a rich tapestry of English varieties, including Taglish (Tagalog English), Singlish (Singapore English), Brunei English, Malaysian English, and more,” she explained. Dita highlighted unique linguistic features, such as the substitution of [f]/[t] and [d] for the initial [th] sound in English spoken in Singaporean and Bruneian English. Additionally, reduplication features, such as ‘can-can’ for ‘It can be done,’ are prevalent in Malaysian and Singaporean English.
Furthermore, Dita stressed the importance of embracing regional accents as a reflection of English as a lingua franca. “It’s not about mimicking American or British accents but about celebrating language variations as a means of identity formation,” she emphasized.
Turning the focus to Indonesian English, Ignatius Tri Endarto, S.Pd., M.A., delved into the phenomenon of mixed English observed in South Jakarta, where English blends with Indonesian in colloquial speech. “While Indonesian English may not be officially recognized, its existence is evident through distinct pronunciation patterns and the incorporation of loanwords from Indonesian and regional languages,” Endarto explained. He also highlighted the pragmatic and polite language systems in Indonesian English, reflecting Indonesian cultural nuances. “Indonesian English serves as a unique variant that showcases the speaker’s identity,” he concluded.
The event sparked meaningful dialogue on the diverse linguistic landscapes within Southeast Asia, underscoring the dynamic nature of English as a global language and the significance of embracing linguistic diversity as a form of cultural expression and identity. [PBI/Eng.bel.ed.drr]