ABSTRACT
The Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia (KBBI) reflects the influence of various foreign languages on Indonesian, not only Arabic and English but also Persian. However, comparative linguistic studies in Indonesia often focus narrowly on specific languages. This research explores Indonesia's political language policy regarding foreign languages, particularly Persian, and whether religious ideology influences language politics towards Persian and Arabic. The data include government regulations on foreign language policies, diplomatic strategies for language development, and Indonesian vocabulary derived from Arabic—especially words ending in ta’ marbūṭah—which often originate from Persian phonetics. Findings reveal that Persian is regulated under Government Regulation No. 57 of 2014 and the Ministry of Education and Culture Regulation No. 40 of 2021 on National Standards for Foreign Language Education. The Persian theory has historically complemented the Arabic theory in introducing Islam to Indonesia. Words like Daulat https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9781003654940/a18f98e0-4372-4397-ab37-095910d41ca5/content/ufig150_1.tif"/>, claimed to be from Arabic, are pronounced in the Persian style with ta’ maftūḥah (open) rather than ta’ marbūṭah (closed), indicating Persian influence on Indonesian dialects. While Arabic is prominent in Islamic rituals, Persian is present in Shia traditions and Iranian culture. Since Shia and Sunni differ mainly in political leadership, not core Islamic beliefs, a more comprehensive linguistic analysis of Persian and Arabic in the KBBI is necessary. An objective study of these influences can enhance language education, promoting principles of peace, justice, and strong institutions.
