Regional Identity and Lingua Franca in the ASEAN Region: A Comparative Study of Indonesian and Malay

Indonesian and Malay share a common ancestral origin. After being separated nearly a century ago, the trajectories of these two languages have diverged significantly. While Indonesian has experienced rapid growth, Malay has lagged. Amid discussions about establishing a lingua franca in the ASEAN region, both languages have been proposed as potential candidates. However, despite prolonged debate, progress in this direction has faced challenges. Neighboring Malay-speaking countries advocate for Malay as the ASEAN lingua franca, while Indonesia actively promotes Indonesian. This research aimed to examine the evolution of Malay in the Archipelago or ASEAN region while demonstrating why Indonesian is a more suitable candidate for lingua franca status than Malay. The research applied qualitative methods, specifically an integrative-critical review and a netnographic approach. The findings reveal that both language share roots in a 7th-century Southeast Asian lingua franca, which was later modernized during colonialism and played a pivotal role in regional trade. This shared historical legacy continues to influence the collective identity of ASEAN Linguistically, Indonesians have developed more complex markers than Malay, reflecting Indonesia’s dynamic sociocultural evolution. These features align with universal language principles, facilitating precise and efficient communication. Additionally, sociolinguistic and geopolitical advantages have bolstered Indonesia’s prominence, leading to its adoption in foreign education and UNESCO recognition. In contrast, Malay has not achieved comparable milestones.