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Languages/Dialects
There are more than 700
languages and dialects spoken in the archipelago. They normally belong to
the different ethnic groups of the population. Some of the distinctly
different local languages are: Acehnese, Batak, Sundanese, Javanese, Sasak,
Tetum of Timor, Dayak, Minahasa, Toraja, Buginese, Halmahera, Ambonese,
Ceramese, and several Irianese languages. To make the picture even more
colorful, these languages are also spoken in different dialects.
Bahasa Indonesia is the national language, which is akin to Malay, written
in Roman script and based on European orthography. English is the number one
foreign language and second most widely used language, whereas some Dutch is
till spoken and understood in the bigger cities and French increasing in its
popularity at the better hotels and restaurants.
The diversity is reflected in
the country’s national motto “Bhineka Tunggal Ika” which means Unity in
Diversity
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