The oblique language<\/p>\n
While languages, like all other aspects of culture, grow and
\nchange over time, it is difficult to say that the Indonesian
\nlanguage, Bahasa Indonesia, is growing in the right direction --
\nthat is, in the direction of becoming a modern language capable
\nof conveying the complex concepts of science, commerce and
\ntechnology.<\/p>\n
Bahasa Indonesia officially became the national language of
\nIndonesia pending the birth of the independent Republic of
\nIndonesia in 1945. A free nation, after all, must have a language
\nof its own besides a national territory, national citizens, a
\nnational flag and a national anthem.<\/p>\n
The history of the Indonesian language, however, goes back in
\ntime much further. As early as in 1928 -- long before most
\nIndonesians even thought of their country ever becoming
\nindependent -- young nationalist leaders convened in Jakarta
\n(Batavia at that time) and proclaimed Bahasa Indonesia the
\nnational language of Indonesia, even though the country did not
\nyet exist. Indonesia was still a Dutch colony called the
\nNetherlands East Indies.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian language, which is a variation of the generic
\nMalay language, did have its limitations. But despite that, the
\nnation's leaders were confident that, in time, the language would
\ngrow into a modern language capable of serving the needs of
\nmodern commerce, science and technology.<\/p>\n
Develop it did, but not in a way that the nation's founding
\nfathers foresaw. The officially approved Standard Indonesian
\nLanguage, it seems, is spoken and written only in classrooms
\nwhile outside, the Jakarta dialect known as Bahasa Betawi is used
\nin its place -- thanks, it seems, to the influence of television
\nand its ever popular soap operas, which are produced in Jakarta
\nand freely intersperse Bahasa Indonesia with Bahasa Betawi words
\nand phrases.<\/p>\n
Whatever standard Bahasa Indonesia that is still spoken is
\nmore often than not corrupted in a manner that obscures the
\nmeaning of the idea the speaker wants to convey. Even television
\nannouncers -- who, by the way, are university graduates -- use a
\nkind of Bahasa Indonesia that makes language teachers blush with
\nembarrassment.<\/p>\n
Worse still is the ubiquitous use of acronyms and euphemisms.
\nThe current topic of debate in Jakarta is whether or not the
\ngovernment is bailing out some big corporations, each with debts
\nrunning into the billions of U.S. dollars. The government assert
\nit is not bailing out these companies -- using taxpayers' money
\n-- contrary to what many experts and analysts maintain. It is
\nmerely \"restructuring\" the debts of some big debtor conglomerates
\nto keep them from going bankrupt. Hence, there is no reason for
\npeople to be upset.<\/p>\n
Famine, of course, has long been nonexistent in Indonesia.
\nWhat does exist is \"food deficits\" in some of the country's
\nregions. So ubiquitous has the use of euphemisms become that the
\nIndonesian language has become known among foreign observers as
\n\"the oblique language.\"<\/p>\n
In part, all this may be due to an old custom common to many
\nparts of Indonesia which forbids the use of direct language, in
\ncertain circumstances, in the belief that it brings bad luck. For
\nexample, people walking in a forest would refer to a snake as a
\n\"root\". Also, direct language is considered disrespectful in
\nconversations with older or socially more highly placed persons.<\/p>\n
Essentially, however, it is pointless to blame the current
\nmess which the Indonesian language is in on old customs or
\ntradition. More than anything, it is indifference or ignorance,
\nor both, that is to blame. Indonesians, however, must think about
\nthe long-term impact of allowing their language to degenerate any
\nfurther into a meaningless hodgepodge of words.<\/p>\n
If Indonesians are serious in their intent on keeping Bahasa
\nIndonesia as their national language, and if their language is to
\nbecome an adequate instrument of communication in this modern
\nage, steps will have to be taken immediately to eliminate the
\nconfusion. Admittedly, that is not an easy task to accomplish.
\nBut unless Indonesians are willing to adopt some other language
\nas their national language, they had better begin correcting the
\nproblem before it becomes a mission impossible.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-oblique-language-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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