Indonesia uses the Latin alphabet primarily due to historical and practical reasons. Before the adoption of the Latin alphabet, various scripts were used across the Indonesian archipelago, including Javanese, Sundanese, and Arabic scripts. However, the Latin alphabet was introduced during the Dutch colonial period, which lasted from the early 17th century until the mid-20th century.
The Dutch colonial administration promoted the use of the Latin alphabet for administrative and educational purposes. This helped in standardizing communication across the diverse linguistic landscape of Indonesia. After gaining independence in 1945, Indonesia continued to use the Latin alphabet to maintain consistency and facilitate literacy and education.
Another significant reason for the continued use of the Latin alphabet is its simplicity and widespread global usage. The Latin alphabet is easier to learn and use compared to the traditional scripts, which often require more complex characters and symbols. This has made it more accessible for the Indonesian population, contributing to higher literacy rates.
In summary, the use of the Latin alphabet in Indonesia is a result of historical influence from the Dutch colonial period, the need for a standardized script, and the practical advantages of the Latin alphabet in terms of simplicity and global usage.