Is it terms of expression or or performance that counts?<\/p>\n
By Mochtar Buchori<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The excessive use of Javanese words and
\nexpressions in Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia) has caused
\nirritation and unease in some circles of Indonesian society.
\nThere are those who feel that this practice, especially the use
\nof old-Javanese or Kawi expressions, alienates groups of non-
\nJavanese origin. There are even those who feel that this is just
\nanother expression of cultural arrogance among the Javanese
\nelite.<\/p>\n
Groups with this kind of perception consider the habit of
\nforcing Javanese words and expressions into Indonesian speech a
\nsharp contrast compared to the attitude shown by Javanese
\npolitical leaders in 1928 and the years after. It was said that
\nduring those years the Javanese leaders considered the adoption
\nof Bahasa Melayu as the national language the biggest cultural
\ngift of the Javanese people to the Indonesian nation as a whole.<\/p>\n
It was said that by not insisting that the Javanese language
\nbe adopted as the national language, instead of Bahasa Melayu
\n(Malay), the Javanese people had convincingly demonstrated their
\nbroad-mindedness and great forbearance at that time. Where are
\nthe traces of this cultural magnanimity? And what is behind this
\npresent insistence on continuously inserting Javanese expressions
\ninto Bahasa Indonesia?<\/p>\n
It should be noted that in this regard, the sentiment prevails
\nnot only among Javanese individuals, but among non-Javanese
\npeople as well.<\/p>\n
I know many Javanese friends who share this sentiment, and
\nthere are even those who feel guilty about not doing anything to
\narrest this flux of \"Javanism\" in our national language.<\/p>\n
In my view, this phenomenon has been caused by several
\nreasons. Some of these reasons can be considered innocent. But
\nthere also reasons that are not so innocent because basically
\nthey come from arrogance.<\/p>\n
The most innocent reason is perhaps the fact that many
\nJavanese people are compulsively polite. They take great care
\nthat their adherence to politeness is properly manifested in the
\nlanguage they use. To these people, Bahasa Indonesia is a
\nlanguage which is not capable of adequately expressing nuances of
\npoliteness. For this reason they introduce Javanese words and
\nexpressions in their Indonesian conversation. When they want to
\nsay \"Would you please sit down, Sir\", they feel that the simple
\nexpression \"Silakan duduk, Bapak\" is not sufficient. They prefer
\nto say, \"Silakan lenggah dahulu, Bapak\", lenggah -- the polite
\nform for the verb lungguh, to sit -- being a word capable of
\nexpressing respect for the person being addressed. Thus every
\ntime they want to convey their respect toward others, they turn
\nto Javanese words for a better way of expression.<\/p>\n
Another reason which in my view smells of arrogance is the
\npractice, common among Javanese people who feel themselves
\nestablished, to adopt names that sound distinguished, names that
\nclearly set them apart from ordinary people. This is done not
\nonly in finding names for persons, but also in inventing names
\nfor buildings, for horses, and for events they consider
\nimportant. For example, these people will never use names like
\nKasdi for a son, or Suminten for a daughter. Such names are
\nappropriate for commoners, but not for children of people who
\nhave reached upper class. Such children must be given names that
\nsuggest nobility, names that bear a touch of class, like
\nKusumaningpraja (meaning: the flower of the state) for a boy or
\nSumarahingtyas (meaning: unconditional acceptance of fate) for a
\ngirl.<\/p>\n
For this same reason, finding names to be used for buildings
\nis done with great care. Government buildings must have names
\nthat bear respect and dignity. These names should also sound
\ngrandiose, suggesting a mystical power which constitutes the
\nsource of authority that resides in the building.<\/p>\n
Viewed from this standpoint, names like Gedung Kehutanan or
\nWisma Veteran just will not suffice. They sound too plain and
\nsuggest nothing. Hence the decision to name those two buildings
\nManggala Wanabakti (commander of servitude to forests, or
\nhappiness brought about by servitude to forests) and Graha
\nPurnayuda (the house built after the battle is over, or the house
\nof those who carried out the battle). And for much coveted praise
\nto be bestowed on provincial governments to acknowledge their
\nachievements in development efforts, a very high-sounding name
\nhas been invented: Parasamya Purna Karya Nugraha, meaning: A
\ncollective reward for the completion of a [great] job. Can you
\nmemorize that?<\/p>\n
The question we are now facing is to decide whether this
\npractice enriches Bahasa Indonesia, or whether it is an unhealthy
\nintrusion of Javanese language into the Indonesian language.<\/p>\n
Personally, I have an ambivalent attitude in this regard.
\nWhile I endorse every effort to refine and sharpen Bahasa
\nIndonesia, I do not want to see our national language become as
\nstratified as the Javanese language. At the end we should not
\nforget that forms of linguistic politeness within the Indonesian
\nculture will never and can never be identical to forms of
\npoliteness within the Javanese culture.<\/p>\n
As for names that suggest dignity and respectability, I think
\nthese two attributes originate basically from performance and
\nfrom character, either personal or institutional. Names do not
\nprovide dignity and authority, it is the reverse that is true:
\ndignity and authority come from performance. Once a public office
\nhas demonstrated to society that it is capable of carrying out
\nits functions effectively and correctly, respect will come to it.
\nAnd the accumulation of public respect will generate dignity and
\nauthority.<\/p>\n
I think it would be wise for us to stop resorting to symbolism
\nand mysticism in our efforts to develop elegance in our language,
\nand civility and authority in our society. We should employ
\ninstead methods and approaches that are more promising and easily
\nunderstandable and appreciated by the public.<\/p>\n
The writer is an observer of social and cultural affairs.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/is-it-terms-of-expression-or-or-performance-that-counts-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }