Speaking at the summit of the Language and Literature Month event held here on Monday evening, Mu'ti also highlighted a survey from Microsoft that assessed that Indonesians' digital civility index ranked low.
Mu'ti explained that this survey showed that Indonesian civilization, measured from the language civility aspect, is still very far from the ideal of a highly cultured nation.
"Therefore, with the commemoration of the Indonesian Language and Literature Month this year, let us speak more politely as part of the noble Indonesian civilization and culture," Mu'ti remarked.
The minister reminded that speaking politely in public spaces reflects Indonesia as a high-culture civilization and a society with manners and extraordinary cultural heritage.
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Hence, he fully supports the efforts made by the Language Agency and other partners to promote the Indonesian language not only as the national identity but also to make Indonesia a nation known abroad.
Mu'ti said that the Language and Literature Month, commemorated every October, is an important momentum to further advance the Indonesian language.
This year's Language Month, themed "Using Language Smartly for the Golden Generation," aims to support Indonesia's ideals of becoming an advanced country by 2045.
"This is our commitment to making the Indonesian language part of our efforts to preserve Indonesia's cultural sovereignty, supported by the preservation of local languages," Mu'ti stated.
He also expressed pride over pantun, an oral poetry recognized as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage.
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Translator: Rizka K, Kenzu
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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