Computer software in Indonesian

Computer software in Indonesian

I read with interest your article of July 21, 2001 titled PC
software in Indonesian to be launched.

I don't think that launching such software is the answer to
making rural and city people computer-literate.

I know of people with a very low level of proficiency in
English who are very proficient in operating the computer. These
people speak a jargon, such as di download dulu, kemudian di SAVE
AS, and the like, a combination of English and Indonesian,
without bothering about translation. On the other hand, I also
know of people who are proficient in English but who are afraid
to touch a computer.

Some 20 years ago there was a Dr. Dali S. Niaga who managed to
make an Indonesian DOS, but nothing came of it. DOS develops, and
obviously the translator could not keep up. In addition, so many
computer books have already been translated or written by local
writers, and somehow people get by, even though many words are
left untranslated. Why must we waste time and money in creating
another (confusing) computer terminology?

Making people computer-literate is not a matter of language,
but, I would say, a matter of attitude toward the computer.
People must coalesce with the machine and regard it as an ally.
It is the fear of the "unknown", the fear of something new, that
keeps certain people away from the computer.

RUDI WILSON

Bandung