oAntara Kita Online Issue 5.0

Joyce Milambiling

I am currently in Medan, Sumatra on a five month Fulbright research/teaching grant from February through June, 2004. I am teaching at the State University of Medan (UNIMED) where I have classes in sociolinguistics and language testing. My research focus will be on the language policy and linguistic culture of Indonesia. I am still formulating my research plan, but I will probably investigate both official language policies (for example, the policy declaring Bahasa Indonesia as the official language)as well as those policies on the grass-roots level that are usually more implicit. I am interested in policies concerning indigenous languages in Indonesia as well as regulations and decisions concerning which foreign languages are taught in public and private institutions.