Arini Suryokusumo Alliod, an Indonesian living in Sydney with her French husband, shares what it is like to raise two children across three languages: Indonesian, French and English, and why the mother tongue remains a priority in the midst of life abroad.
On 21 February, the world marks International Mother Language Day, a moment to celebrate linguistic diversity and the importance of preserving our mother tongues. For Indonesian diaspora families living overseas, the occasion carries a personal weight.
For families raising children in multilingual environments, keeping the mother tongue alive is no small feat. The challenge is real when the language of school, friendships and everyday life is different from the one spoken at home.
SBS Indonesian spoke with Arini Suryokusumo Alliod, an Indonesian living in Sydney with her French husband, about her experience raising children in three languages and why Bahasa Indonesia remains a priority in her household.
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