English at the periphery: Evidence from Indonesian popular novels

Abstract

AbstractThis study investigates the symbolic power of English in contemporary Indonesia as represented by Indonesian popular texts published following the New Order era (1966–1998) (popularly known as the Reformasi era). English, a language that entered the Indonesian linguistic landscape quite late, is still treated as a foreign language by many Indonesians but has been increasingly visible in popular texts since the Reformasi. This era has witnessed a political and societal turmoil that has resulted in expanded freedom of speech including more linguistic freedom overall. Using interpretive textual analysis, this study investigates how the popular narratives 9 Summers, 10 Autumns and the Ms. B series, published in the Reformasi era, maneuver English in their texts. The findings suggest that popular texts function as effective sociolinguistic sites to reveal the power of English and its societal entrenchment in contemporary Indonesia. They also show that English has been granted a special spotlight and status by many writers and characters in their novels, highlighting its significance in contemporary Indonesian popular texts.