Concern for
\nIndonesian<\/p>\n
As an Indonesian citizen concerned over Bahasa Indonesia, I am
\ndeeply impressed by the Australian high school students who speak
\nBahasa Indonesia fluently and flawlessly (The Jakarta Post, April
\n15, 1994). I also appreciate any concern over Bahasa Indonesia in
\nany form, including the lament made in this paper's editorial.<\/p>\n
However, I would like to mention some general language
\nphenomena, in relation with the editorial.<\/p>\n
When I was in college, though I was majoring English, I
\nstudied style (variations) of language. There are five styles:
\nfrozen, formal, consultative, casual and intimate styles. These
\nstyles are found in almost any society. The styles reflect the
\ndifference in nuance and relationship of the speakers and
\nlisteners, or of writers and readers. In casual style, for
\nexample, we may find some omissions of certain grammatical
\nstructures, or short forms of certain words.<\/p>\n
So speaking with friends requires a different style than
\nspeaking with strangers. In the first instance, we might tend to
\nuse a casual style, while in the second, a formal style. The use
\nof a casual or intimate style among close friends is a common
\nphenomenon found in any society. It does not necessarily mean, I
\nsuppose, \"a tendency to use the national language with too little
\nrespect towards grammar in order to show their status,\" as the
\neditorial states. Just imagine what would happen if we used the
\nformal style when we talked among close friends, and what the
\nresult would be if we used the casual style, say using gue, when
\nwe talked to strangers.<\/p>\n
The second language phenomenon I would like to mention is the
\nuse of foreign or local words in Bahasa Indonesia sentences. This
\nhappens very often in our society. The purpose of using foreign
\nor local words is to give the exact meaning the words convey
\nsince Bahasa Indonesia might not have an equivalent. The speaker
\nor writer worries that the use of translation does not convey the
\nsame things as the original words do.<\/p>\n
This is our \"assignment.\" A couple of years ago we could still
\nhear people using the word \"monitor\" (as in memonitor, verb). But
\nnow the exact equivalence in Bahasa Indonesia is memantau (verb).<\/p>\n
However, I realize that there are some people who use this
\napplication just to show off.<\/p>\n
ABDUL MUKTI<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>\n
Why foreign
\npilots?<\/p>\n
From Suara Karya<\/p>\n
When we travel by air on domestic flights we often find a
\nforeign pilot in the cockpit besides an Indonesian one. This
\nseems strange if we follow the development of civil aviation in
\nthis country, especially as far as the cockpit crew is concerned.<\/p>\n
If we look back at the situation in the 1950s, there were only
\ntwo airlines in Indonesia -- Garuda Indonesian Airways (now PT
\nGaruda Indonesia) and Kroonduif (now PT Merpati Nusantara). At
\nthat time all pilots of the two companies were KLM (Royal Dutch
\nAirways) pilots, who worked for Indonesia, because civil aviation
\nwas still unpopular among Indonesian young people.<\/p>\n
In 1954, Garuda Indonesian Airways recruited some Indonesian
\npilots from the Air Force, and in the meantime graduates from Ast
\nHamble (Britain), Indonesian Aviation Academy (Curug) and
\nRijksluchtvaart School (The Netherlands) began to fill cockpits
\nas pilots, with the captain still being a foreign pilot. Not
\nuntil 1956 did Indonesian pilots begin to act as captains for
\nsmaller aircraft.<\/p>\n
In 1958, when Indonesia was struggling to regain West Irian
\nfrom the Dutch, Indonesian pilots began to take over the cockpit
\nfrom the Dutch pilots who had to leave Indonesia.<\/p>\n
That at the present time we still see foreign pilots in the
\ncockpits of Indonesian fleet gives rise to some questions.<\/p>\n
First, are Indonesians less capable of flying aircraft,
\nincluding Aircharter and Airtaxi? Is it true that Indonesian
\nAviation Schools cannot produce enough pilots to meet demand?
\nAlso, is it true that the present fleet is so sophisticated that
\nforeign pilots are needed to handle the aircraft, while
\nIndonesian pilots are being prepared for a technology takeover?<\/p>\n
SUMITRO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>\n
Sexual diseases
\nin Irian Jaya<\/p>\n
From Kompas<\/p>\n
It is unfortunate that the governor of Irian Jaya has
\nrejected the report appearing in the Kompas daily that sexually
\ntransmitted diseases are a major problem among villagers in the
\nBaliem Valley.<\/p>\n
If the report is true, it is important to take action to
\nprotect the villagers, who constitute the smallest number of
\nIrian Jaya tribespeople, from extinction.<\/p>\n
The report is not like the explosion of a bomb as the governor
\nsuggested. However, the diseases will certainly become a time
\nbomb, if the government fails to handle the problem immediately.<\/p>\n
We should remember that the people of Irian are Indonesians
\nwho need our concern and help. Prompt action from the government
\nwill be appreciated.<\/p>\n
MARIA MMF KAISIEPO<\/p>\n
Bogor, West Java<\/p>\n
Land compensation
\nrates in Maluku<\/p>\n
From Pelita<\/p>\n
On the behalf of the villagers of Laimu Village, Tehoru
\nDistrict, Central Maluku Regency, Ambon, I plead with the
\nMinistry of Home Affairs to re-evaluate the amount of land
\ncompensation paid by the cement company, Maluku Semen Dinamika,
\nand the subdistrict head of Laimu Village.<\/p>\n
We base our pleas on the knowledge that the company has been
\ncollaborating with the subdistrict head of Laimu, forcing us to
\nrelinquish our land at only Rp 1,000 per meter.<\/p>\n
We do not object to the construction of a cement factory in
\nour village, but expect them to compensate us for our land and
\nthe plants on it at appropriate amounts. The trees did not grow
\nthere by themselves.<\/p>\n
We hope the government will intervene immediately, or there
\nwill be more poor villages in this country.<\/p>\n
MARIO ABUBAKAR KUMKELO<\/p>\n
Laimu Village, Ambon<\/p>\n
Supporters for
\nThomas, Uber cups<\/p>\n
From Kompas<\/p>\n
The Indonesian badminton players' recent success in the All
\nEngland finals brings optimism that the nation will seize the
\nThomas Cup and the Uber Cup in May.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, the Indonesia Badminton Association (PBSI)
\nshould be alert about the non-technical factors influencing our
\nperformance. Among these being the behavior of our players'
\nsupporters.<\/p>\n
I think Indonesian supporters are unpredictable and they may
\nmock or boo our players, when they are having difficulties
\nwinning.<\/p>\n
It is advisable for PBSI to screen supporters and give them
\nfree tickets to ensure that they will be polite and support our
\nplayers even when their rivals lead in the matches.<\/p>\n
These supporters could be deployed only during the final
\nrounds.<\/p>\n
I wish the players well. Win the cups.<\/p>\n
SJAMSIDIK<\/p>\n
Jakarta
\nJudges' salaries
\nand hard duties<\/p>\n
From Kompas<\/p>\n
The negative image of Indonesian judges cannot help but to
\nprevail.<\/p>\n
Judges are human beings who make mistakes just like anyone
\nelse. They can also be tempted by consumerism and the glamorous
\nway of life of a big city.<\/p>\n
Compared to those of their ASEAN counterparts, the salaries of
\nIndonesian judges are poor.<\/p>\n
I think the government should review the salary system for
\njudges in light of the difficult tasks the judges face in
\nupholding justice and truth. They deserve millions of rupiah per
\nmonth.<\/p>\n
ARY SETYADHARMA<\/p>\n
Pangkalan Bun<\/p>\n
Central Kalimantan<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/concern-for-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }