Surakarta Pendok (Pendhok) Paper

[kai]

Hello Alan,

Why would an Indonesian academic publish in English? It doesn't make sense ---well, to me it doesn't make sense.

Well, academia worldwide publishes in English, especially if it wants to make any impact. Partly, because publications in other languages tend to get ignored, partly because it confers a bit of status over publishing the same paper in an "odd" language, and last not least because the major journals only accept MSs in English...

I will not try to contact the author, I'd just as soon not incur a debt.

Theoretically, in academia this would be regarded as obligation rather than something which incurs a debt. I'm aware that this probably would be seen a bit differently in some countries and circles though...

Regards,
Kai