'Bahasa Inglonesia'?

Some recent letters have provoked me to write this letter. One was a letter by Rusdi (Nov. 26) who felt that all would-be ministers should be scanned for their proficiency in English before they are given the job.

Another one was by Nesa Ilich (Nov. 8) titled Education system in Indonesia, who bemoaned that graduates educated in Indonesian universities rarely shined in the international arena and concluded that their education was probably sub-standard.

Although my knowledge of Indonesian universities is inadequate, I deal with Indonesian engineers on a daily basis and find them quite proficient. And my proficiency in Bahasa Indonesia really helps me to understand this proficiency.

The Soekarno-Hatta Airport demonstrates the successful implementation of relatively inexpensive cakar ayam system of making foundations in swamps invented by Prof. Sudiyatmo. But very few know about this system outside Indonesia! Had it been invented by an English-speaking person, many papers might have been presented in international forums, thus granting it the world-wide recognition it deserves.

So whether it was a minister who created a few raised eyebrows in Bangalore or graduates who don't shine in the international arena, the malady is the same: Lack of English proficiency! So the earlier Indonesians take English language seriously, the better.

Now let us look at the letter by Bandung's Fanda Alle bemoaning mixing of English words while speaking in local dialects. Well, open any Indonesian newspaper. You will come across plenty of English words on the very front page. Try these: Evaluasi, kondisi, tradisi, otopsi, generasi, kolusi, renovasi, polusi, permisi, kriminal, etc., just to name a few. More and more English words are being added to Bahasa Indonesia everyday!

If this continues, Bahasa Indonesia will slowly blossom to become Bahasa Inglonesia. After all, the Indians have introduced Hinglish, a mixture of Hindi and English! And though I speak Indonesian quite fluently, I find it very difficult to understand people's replies because very few Indonesians in Jakarta speak 'pure' Bahasa Indonesia. Most of them mix in words from other languages, like Sundanese, Javanese and the ever-present Betawi (sono in place of sana). Responses are also embellished with generous use of kan that simply floors me (example: saya kan kemarin kan pergi kan ke Bandung.).

K. B. KALE Jakarta