by Keisha Centa Putri
What would happen if we didn’t have a language to express our opinions and feelings?
In everyday life, language is not merely a tool for communication, but also a means of fostering meaningful understanding and ideas. This is clearly evident in the figure of Kartini, one of Indonesia’s national heroes and a pioneer of women’s emancipation, who demonstrated how words can be a source of strength for opening up new perspectives in the fields of equality and education.
Through the letters she sent to her pen pals in the Netherlands, Kartini shared her ideas on education, equality, women’s rights, and social change. From there, her ideas spread far and wide, becoming known in various parts of the world. This is clear proof that words are not merely strokes of a pen, but something that can come alive, inspire, and reach billions of people.
In fact, language also serves as a bridge connecting people from different backgrounds and walks of life. English, for example, as a lingua franca, helps us communicate with people from all corners of the world who speak different native languages, allowing us to share stories and gain new perspectives. Just as Kartini used letters to build relationships with people outside Indonesia, language provides a space in the modern world for us to converse, learn, and grow together.
Language is a power that will remain relevant well into the future. Using language more consciously, positively, and wisely will greatly help us build relationships, broaden our horizons, and foster more meaningful communication. To that end, start by expressing your ideas with confidence, use language as a bridge that unites people, listen to others’ opinions with an open mind, and actively engage in conversations that foster understanding and positive change. From there, we can carry on Kartini’s spirit by using language as a tool to build understanding, communicate, and bring about change for a better world.
Source:
- Pambudy, N. M. (2025, April 26). Book review: Just call me Kartini… Its relevance today. Kompas. https://www.kompas.id/artikel/en-panggil-aku-kartini-sajarelevansinya-kini
- Lianovanda, D. (2025, April 21). Biografi R. A Kartini, wanita tangguh pejuang emansipasi. Brain Academy by Ruangguru. https://www.brainacademy.id/blog/biografi-ra-kartini
- Dsouza, L. (n.d.). Language: A critical tool to unlock peace and understanding. NaTakallam. https://natakallam.com/blog/language-a-critical-tool-to-unlock-peace-and-understanding/
