Language and meaning

To date, discussions about the relation between "language," "meaning" and "man" have always been of great interest to scholars and have helped devise various methods of understanding texts/literature, including religious literature. Briefly, it can be said that some scholars are of the opinion that "meaning" is something inherent to language, and autonomous, and man is merely interpreting it. Others say that "meaning" is something which lingers in man's brain. Man puts meaning into language. Still others try to bridge "radical objectivity" and "radical subjectivity," and say that the relation between "language" and "man" is dialogical.

I agree with this last concept. Because, language reflects the existence of a community. And community comprises unique and living individuals who experience change and develop. The dialogical approach to language implies that there is plurality of meaning. To interpret, to use Habermas's terminology, is a "communicative act" in which the dialog between "me" and "text" also involves "he" (another person) as "the other".

Mochtar Buchori, in his article Pokoke...reflects an antireason mentality concludes that the Javanese word pokoke, which means "in principle", denotes an antireason attitude. Pokoke refers to "absolute" opinion, decision, or action, that is indisputable or cannot be altered by whatever force, either through common sense or coercive ways, or violence (The Jakarta Post, Oct. 8).

My question now is: Does pokoke really have only a single meaning? In the course of its development, the word pokoke has been translated and used in daily Indonesian language by the Javanese, Bataks and Minangkabau who have different experiences and cultural backgrounds. A translation has in fact a limitation, and it is principally an interpretation. However, a translation is always made as near to its original meaning as possible. And in its use, pokoke has experienced a slight change of meaning. Its meaning changes in different contexts. So it does not merely refer to antireason or authoritarian attitude. My Manadonese friend once said to me: "You can give me a piece of cloth of any color -- cream, white, pink, or blue; pokoke I like soft colors of any shade ..." It is clear that here the word pokoke does not imply any authoritarian attitude or antireason. The meaning of this word has changed to intensify the statement that "he likes any color," provided it is a soft color.

I feel that Mochtar Buchori's article slightly misses the point.

RAINY MP HUTABARAT

Jakarta