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Indonesian

Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is an archipelago in Southeast Asia consisting of over 17,000 islands, with five main island groups: Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan (Borneo), Sulawesi, and Papua, plus thousands of smaller islets. It is the world’s largest archipelagic state and the fourth most populous country, home to more than 270 million people. Historically, Indonesia was a center of ancient trade routes and indigenous Hindu–Buddhist kingdoms such as Srivijaya and Majapahit, later colonized by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) and the Dutch colonial empire. Following independence in 1945, Indonesia transitioned from authoritarian rule under President Sukarno and later President Suharto to a democratic republic.

Asterix vs. slavery
Asterix speaks Indonesian

Culturally, Indonesia is extremely diverse, with over 300 ethnic groups and more than 700 living languages. Javanese and Sundanese cultures dominate on Java, while Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Papua, and the eastern islands each have distinct traditions, customs, dances, and music. The population is predominantly Muslim (approximately 87%), with significant minorities practicing Christianity, Hinduism (especially in Bali), Buddhism, and Confucianism. Religion often shapes local festivals and customs across the islands.

Geographically and socially, Java is the political and economic center and notably more densely populated, while provinces like Papua remain remote with unique indigenous cultures and lower development indices. Indonesia’s landscape ranges from tropical rainforests and active volcanoes to rich coral reefs and mangrove forests. The economy is diverse and export-driven, with agriculture, natural resources, manufacturing, and services playing key roles.

Bahasa Indonesian

In English, the country’s official language is referred to as Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia), a standardized register of Malay within the Austronesian language family. It is used in government, education, and nationwide media, serving as the lingua franca among a multilingual population.

Language Tree and History

  • Austronesian family → Malayo-Polynesian branch → Malay dialects → Standard Indonesian.
  • Evolved from Riau Malay, chosen as a neutral communication tool during the 1945 national revolution, minimizing dominance by any ethnic group.

Grammar and Vocabulary

  • Indonesian is analytical (no verb conjugation, noun genders, or grammatical tense markings).
  • Affixation (prefixes, suffixes, infixes) expresses passive voice, active voice, nominalization, and nuance.
  • Reduplication adds plurality or intensification (e.g., buku-buku “books,” besar-besar “very big”).

Dutch and Other Influences

  • During ~350 years of colonization, many Dutch loanwords entered Indonesian: kantor (office), gratis (free), sekolah (school).
  • Other influences flow from Arabic, Sanskrit, Portuguese, Chinese, and indigenous languages, especially for religious, technical, or natural concepts.

Language and Dialects

  • While Bahasa Indonesia is taught in schools and used nationwide, major regions still speak regional languages/dialects at home:
    • Javanese (approx. 80 million speakers)
    • Sundanese, Malay, Minangkabau, Balinese, and Papuan Austronesian languages
  • These regional languages influence local slang, pronunciation, idioms, and vocabulary within the standard language.
asterix indonesian negeri dewa dewa
Indonesian Asterix cover

Publication of Asterix in Indonesia

The Asterix series has been translated into Bahasa Indonesia under the title “Kisah Petualangan Asterix”, with at least 30 volumes available. Two main publishers have brought Asterix to Indonesian readers:

Pustaka Sinar Harapan

  • Headquartered in Jakarta, this publishing house released many Asterix volumes throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, including notable titles such as Obelix dan Kawan-Kawan, Bayi Asterix, Desa Belah Tengah, Perjalanan ke Mesopotamia, and Sang Penghasut.
  • Translators such as A. Rahartati Bambang Haryo are credited, and editions typically run 48 pages, full-colour, on standard comic-book dimensions.

Elex Media Komputindo

  • More recently, Elex Media restarted publication of classic titles, such as Asterix di Inggris (Classic), available from 2024 with standard ISBN and retail pricing (e.g., around IDR 70,000) .

Both publishers offer well-translated editions retaining Uderzo’s original artwork and preserving René Goscinny’s humor. Indonesian readers can enjoy authentic names, cultural puns, and slapstick comedy adapted into Bahasa Indonesia while following the adventures of Asterix and Obelix across the Roman era.