'Bahasa Inglonesia'?

'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