Damaged Language

There should be immense admiration and gratitude for those farsighted people who in the 1920s, long before Indonesia's independence, promoted that greatest or unifiers: a common language. The simple and courageous step of denying Javanese preeminence by choosing the Malay language as the basis was a political masterstroke. An indication that the very old order had its share of canny leaders too.

The Pancasila concept of unity in diversity is now reflected in the language as a richness of vocabulary evolves at least unofficially in the melting pot of Jakartan society. It is a characteristic of a strong language that it freely accepts words from other languages where those words better express a particular feeling, concept or thing. Thus we encounter Javanese, Batak and Balinese (among many others) words within Bahasa Indonesian. The evolutionary process of essential communication will see one or the other prevail.

The world's strongest languages are English, French and Spanish (in terms of geographical spread). It is significant that these countries have been invaded and have invaded others. The diversity of influences on these languages is one of their major strengths. For example, the Spanish learned about bullfighting from Ernest Hemingway; the French cut their grass with Le Lawnmower (pronounced Le Lon Moheur); and the English took a missionary position on romance until the French taught them how to "rendezvous".

Herein lies my problem. The word rendezvous with all its romantic, even naughty, connotations has an important and powerful usage. Thus, when the restaurant named "Rendezvous" was obliged to change to "Pertemuan", I knew I was in trouble. For three years I have been inviting young girls, women and even gentlemen to pertemuan after pertemuan with me. What must those poor people think. My motives were strictly business. But if rendezvous is accurately translated into pertemuan, those people were either shocked or disappointed that funny business didn't ensue.

The other day in Kemang, when my son stood still for five minutes, someone taped over the English words on his T-shirt.

To use four Indonesian words I'd be glad to have in English: Awas! Hati-hati! (be careful) or a bad translation will leave you with the language being damaged instead of enriched by new words.

GRAEME ST JOHN

Jakarta