Yogyakarta, 7 September 2026 — The Master’s Program in Linguistics, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, held an Expert Lecture on the theme “Language Politics” on Monday, 7 September 2026. Held at the Soegondo Building, FIB UGM, the event provided an academic forum for exploring the relationship between language and social, political, and regional dynamics, particularly in Southeast Asia.
The Expert Lecture featured two speakers who offered complementary perspectives. Jerôme Samuel from the Institut National des Langues Orientales, France, delivered a presentation entitled “Language Politics in Southeast Asian Countries.” His presentation explored the dynamics of language policy and politics across Southeast Asian countries, as well as the strategic position of language in social life and regional relations.
The second speaker, Dr. Merry Andriani, S.S., M.L.C.S. from Universitas Gadjah Mada, presented “The Politics of Indonesian as a Working Language in ASEAN.” Her presentation provided insights into the position and role of Indonesian in the regional context, particularly in relation to the development of ASEAN and the potential of Indonesian as a language for communication and cooperation within the region.
The discussion was moderated by Dhisna Luklu’ul Fauzan, S.S., a student of the Master’s Program in Linguistics. The interaction between the speakers and participants was an important part of the event, providing opportunities to further explore language politics from diverse perspectives.
Through this Expert Lecture, the Master’s Program in Linguistics, FIB UGM, continues to provide an academic space that encourages students and participants to understand language not only as a means of communication, but also as an integral part of social, political, identity, and regional dynamics.
The Master’s Program in Linguistics, FIB UGM, extends its appreciation to the speakers, moderator, and all participants for their contributions to the event. It is hoped that the Expert Lecture on “Language Politics” will broaden perspectives and encourage further discussion and research on language politics in Indonesia and Southeast Asia.