Damaged Language<\/p>\n
There should be immense admiration and gratitude for those
\nfarsighted people who in the 1920s, long before Indonesia's
\nindependence, promoted that greatest or unifiers: a common
\nlanguage. The simple and courageous step of denying Javanese
\npreeminence by choosing the Malay language as the basis was a
\npolitical masterstroke. An indication that the very old order had
\nits share of canny leaders too.<\/p>\n
The Pancasila concept of unity in diversity is now reflected
\nin the language as a richness of vocabulary evolves at least
\nunofficially in the melting pot of Jakartan society. It is a
\ncharacteristic of a strong language that it freely accepts words
\nfrom other languages where those words better express a
\nparticular feeling, concept or thing. Thus we encounter Javanese,
\nBatak and Balinese (among many others) words within Bahasa
\nIndonesian. The evolutionary process of essential communication
\nwill see one or the other prevail.<\/p>\n
The world's strongest languages are English, French and
\nSpanish (in terms of geographical spread). It is significant that
\nthese countries have been invaded and have invaded others. The
\ndiversity of influences on these languages is one of their major
\nstrengths. For example, the Spanish learned about bullfighting
\nfrom Ernest Hemingway; the French cut their grass with Le
\nLawnmower (pronounced Le Lon Moheur); and the English took a
\nmissionary position on romance until the French taught them how
\nto \"rendezvous\".<\/p>\n
Herein lies my problem. The word rendezvous with all its
\nromantic, even naughty, connotations has an important and
\npowerful usage. Thus, when the restaurant named \"Rendezvous\" was
\nobliged to change to \"Pertemuan\", I knew I was in trouble. For
\nthree years I have been inviting young girls, women and even
\ngentlemen to pertemuan after pertemuan with me. What must those
\npoor people think. My motives were strictly business. But if
\nrendezvous is accurately translated into pertemuan, those people
\nwere either shocked or disappointed that funny business didn't
\nensue.<\/p>\n
The other day in Kemang, when my son stood still for five
\nminutes, someone taped over the English words on his T-shirt.<\/p>\n
To use four Indonesian words I'd be glad to have in English:
\nAwas! Hati-hati! (be careful) or a bad translation will leave you
\nwith the language being damaged instead of enriched by new words.<\/p>\n
GRAEME ST JOHN<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/damaged-language-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }