SOUTH-EAST ASIA AND ISSUES OF AREAL LINGUISTICS

Abstract

Southeast Asia -is first and- foremost a g~,aphical- - entity-. With the development of sciences, the diversity and plentifulness of Southeast Asia has been gradually recognized and this geographical area has, over recent years, emerged as a complicated object of an interdisciplinary studies- Areal Studies. Since the foundation of ASEAN numerous general issues of regional concern have imperceptibly arisen, among which is the problem of language use. In the highlights of Areal Linguistics, the language use in various geographical areas including the countries who are related to each other should he viewed from different angles: the language use in each country, language origin, "logics, language contact within and outside of the region. 2. This article intends to suggest various aspects of the language use in Southeast Asia torical stages, form the earliest time to the beginning of the Second World War, the withdrawal of colonialism when individual country's language policies played an important part in the world's language situation. The article ends with an introduction of a viewpoint on regional language contact. 4. Recently, great attention has been paid to the problem of using a general language in regional contact. As it is expected in this article, seeking solutions to this problem should be originated from the language functions. One could easily notice these functions through such specific expressions of language as a vital means of communication in con,ununities, language as a reflection of thought and a vehicle to perception, language as an instrument of action as well as a means to, on one hand, unite communities, and one another, to differentiate one from another. Broaching the issue of regional language use should be based on the practical language use of each country within the area and of the area as a whole, including the existential language contact. As a result, according to the writer, what is more adequate than the choice of general language for Southeast Asia is the use of a foreign language as a Mediator Language. It is the English language- the most popular foreign language in Southeast Asia and even in other parts of the worldMeanwhile, the national languages of the countries within the region continue to play the role of reinforcing national ethnic groups, and at the same time, representing peculiar national identities. When this happens, it will ensure the integration process within and outside of the whole -area