Impact of English on the Indonesian Language and Culture: High School Students’ Perceptions

Abstract

This study explores the perception of Indonesian high school students of the impact of English on Indonesian language and culture amids concerns about the dominance of the international language and the country’s efforts to maintain the national language. As many as 333 students from five schools in Salatiga, Central Java, participated in this research by filling out a Likert-scaled questionnaire. Unlike previous studies investigating a similar issue in the context of Indonesia, the study demonstrates strongly divided responses from the participants towards English. The students’ religion and major were also shown to be significant factors affecting the responses. Overall this research reveals  stronger perceived tensions between the national language/culture and English than what has been demonstrated in previous research.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.sal.0.30.17570