Is Bahasa Indonesia hard to learn, or is the claim that it is easy just a myth? According to Dr. Patrick Anderson, who has a Ph.D. in Education from Harvard University, Indonesian isn’t too challenging to learn. At least, this is the case for English speakers. Let us take a look at some of the reasons below.
Is Bahasa Indonesia Hard to Learn? Not Really
Here are some primary reasons English speakers will not struggle to learn Indonesian:
Latin Alphabet
Indonesian uses the same 26 letters as English: the Latin alphabet. There are also no special symbols. Right out of the bat, there is no need to learn a second writing system. Of course, the pronunciation will not be the same, which brings us to the next point.
Simple Pronunciation
Bahasa Indonesia has six vowels. All of them have a consistent pronunciation, unlike the long and short vowels English has. Additionally, Indonesian consonants are pronounced consistently, making it easier for beginners to read unfamiliar words. Even better, there are no silent letters in the language at all, eliminating any doubt when trying to read a word out loud.
Regional language differences and slang terms aside, it would not take long for a beginner to pick up new words quickly. With practice, you can even read a sentence containing words you have never encountered even if you do not know the meaning of most of them. You likely have to learn how to roll your “r”s, but this skill can be acquired over time.
No Verb Tenses
English speakers have to add letters to verbs based on the context, but Bahasa Indonesia does not have this problem. You only have to add words as markers for time to reflect past, present, or future tense. Having no tenses makes Indonesian easy to learn. In other words, there are no “-s”es or “-ed”s to add to Indonesian words.
No Gender
Languages like French and German gender their words, requiring speakers to change their forms based on whether it is male or female. However, Indonesian uses the same pronoun for both male and female subjects. For example, the distinction between “he” and “she” is lost, and its role is taken by the word “dia.”
Subject + Verb + Object Sentence Structure
Other than the reasons covered above, a crucial reason you might be able to learn Bahasa Indonesia easily is the SVO sentence structure. English uses this structure too, making it instinctive to construct sentences in Indonesian once you get the hang of things. Even if you place words wrongly at first, people will still understand you.
Non-Tonal Language
Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, and Punjabi are tonal languages, meaning that a simple shift in tone can drastically change the meaning of a word. You will not encounter anything like this when learning Indonesian, and both tone and pitch are only used to convey mood and emotions.
Begin Your Bahasa Indonesia Learning Journey Today
So, is Bahasa Indonesia hard to learn? For English speakers, the language is not too challenging to pick up, though true mastery and understanding will take time, practice, and immersion.
If you’re looking for Bahasa Indonesia classes in Singapore, INDOTUTORS can help. Our courses not only cover everyday conversation skills but also help students understand cultural nuances that native speakers grasp. We have been helping students learn Bahasa Indonesia since 2011.
In addition to in-person classes, we offer online courses to fit your schedule. They include:
- Beginner Courses: Learn essential Bahasa Indonesia phrases and basic grammar
- Business Indonesian: Vocabulary used in professional environments and business occasions
- Conversational Indonesian: Study everyday vocabulary
Start Learning Immediately
Our experienced Indonesian teachers have years of experience teaching individuals, professionals, and organizations from various sectors. Reach out to us at info@indotutors.com. You can also call or send us a message on WhatsApp at +65 82887890.
Selamat belajar! (Happy learning!)