Your Ltters
Learn polite English
As an English teacher in Jakarta, the discussion surrounding the book by Ibu Rahayu Ratnaningsih Common Phrases for Teenagers, has highlighted several issues of concern to me.
Trying to find teaching materials is not an easy task, and I do commend Ibu Rahayu for her efforts. Some materials are inappropriate culturally, others are inaccurate either grammatically or socially, still others are not appropriate for adult learners, or may have other limitations. That being said, I would like to address some of the issues raised.
Ibu Rahayu comments that she's heard these words in English- speaking cities. Yes, if you listen to truck drivers, and that element of society, you will hear that kind of language, just as I would learn that kind of Bahasa Indonesia if I listened to the speech of becak (pedicabs) or bajaj drivers.
She also comments that the exact translation of some of those words is so vulgar that she can't use the Indonesian words. How do you think dignified, polite English speakers feel when we hear those words in our language? We are appalled to put it mildly. I recently heard of a new group in Scotland, called the "Pure Speech Movement," dedicated to the elimination of such words from the media.
In America there are parental groups and others dedicated to similar purposes, (addressing not only language but violence and explicit sex in the media). One of those groups was led by the present Vice President's wife, Mrs. Albert Gore, and the wife of the former Secretary of State, Mrs. James Baker!
The comment that these words "are used by people from all different walks of life," is a bit too inclusive and much too wide a generalization. And as most parents know, "everyone is doing it," is not an acceptable excuse for bad behavior. Just because one hears obscene language is no reason to perpetuate it in language training.
I would also be interested to hear what the parents of those teenagers who were Ibu Rahayu's informants say to the use of that type of language by their offspring.
Despite what the media show, there are large groups of people in the English-speaking countries who deplore the representations of vulgarity and immorality that are found on TV, in music, etc. Some of the language that is heard here is not permitted on the public airwaves in America! And if this language were acceptable, why is it that these words are only indicated by --- in the newspapers?
On a lesser scale, some English language materials may teach what is grammatically correct, but not socially so: e.g. why is it that the first thing many Indonesian school children try to say to westerners is "What is your name?" This is not polite in Indonesian, and only asked by authority figures in English. Never mind gutter language and the like!
However, much of the discussion misses the bigger issue, which should be, not "how low can you go," but rather how high? Most Indonesians I've met who want to learn English are concerned about learning the most polite forms of the language they can. It is a natural extension of their desire to be polite in social situations. A better question might be, "how can language learners be taught socially appropriate language?"
And finally, wanting to learn English in many cases is driven by the desire to gain access to the upper levels of international government, business and intellectual life. Indonesians who aspire to these levels want to learn the educated standard.
It is by learning this kind of language that they will earn international recognition for themselves, their country and the organizations they represent. Learning to use the kind of language represented by this book, I think would be counterproductive to such goals.
It is my hope that this ongoing debate will inspire Ibu Rahayu and others to produce materials that will help Indonesians learn accurate and socially appropriate English and other foreign languages.
PENELOPE L. MITCHELL
Jakarta
Reproductive rights of women
I salute Dr. Kartono Mohammad for highlighting the important issue of women's reproductive rights--the idea that women should have the right to say no to sex, to decide when and if to get pregnant and to choose their own methods of contraception and should have access to adequate information (reported April 18, 1994).
I believe he is right in saying that the enhancement of such reproductive rights could help reduce Indonesia's unnecessarily high maternal mortality rates.
I would like to go further, and suggest that we must recognize access to information, service, and support on a full spectrum of health issues as a basic right for both women and men.
Concern for a woman's reproductive health should not be limited only to her role as "mother-to-be" while neglecting related issues such as reproductive tract infection, breast and cervical cancer, and other aspects of sexual health.
In addition, with longer life expectancy, an increase in the average age of marriage, more women entering the work force, and reductions in average family size, a women's active reproductive life--bearing and rearing children--represents a smaller proportion of a woman's lifetime health concerns than in the past.
Thus other issues such as the health impact of violence, both inside and outside the home, occupational health, aging, changing lifestyles, and the gender-specific consequences of modern urban and rural environments must join reproductive health as "standard" concerns in the field of women's health.
Women's health problems can be life and death issues for the women concerned. Both women and society in general will be well served by addressing them.
I would argue that our national commitment to the development of human resources and the quality of individual and community life in the next 25 years--second long-term development plan--demand that we take a new look at the field of women's health.
NAFSIAH MBOI
Jakarta
National library
From Bisnis Indonesia
In writing a thesis, library materials are absolutely essential. I had assumed that the library in the capital city with the best collection of printed materials would be the National Library. But my assumption was completely wrong.
On one visit to the library, I found the situation to be quite unfavorable. The methods in the service section are impractical. And furthermore, there aren't friendly faces to serve the library users.
I had to wait unnecessarily long for them to deliver the books I wanted--two hours, in fact--because the staff member in charge was having lunch. Couldn't another staff member have done the job?
I hope the management of the National Library will improve and promote the service to the public.
HASTOMO MULYADI
Jakarta
GKG case and psychic
From Jayakarta
The Golden Key Group (GKG) credit fiasco has brought good fortune to psychics like Ki Gendon Sapujagat. A large number of clients have contacted him, mainly asking about the fate of those entangled in the fraud involving Rp 1.3 trillion.
They generally ask the same questions -- whether or not they will be defendants in the GKG case, and what punishments they may face.
According to Ki Gendon, there are many people who do not have the courage to face the consequences, and they tend to seek protection from those in power. They are cowards. If they confessed honestly, the people would naturally forgive them.
Ki Gendon has set a high consultation fee. Rather than charging by the hour, he has charged by the minute. In fact, he has been staying in a five-star hotel in Jakarta at US$2000 per night for his consultations.
His clients have been quite willing to pay high fees just to appease their troubled minds.
SALIM LUBIS
Jakarta
Civil servants
From Suara Karya
I am interested in commenting on the letter dated April 8, 1994 by Patawari Karim, who compared the salaries of the civil servants to the Gross National Product (GNP). GNP is the national income divided by the population.
If one percent of the richest people are excluded from the GNP calculations, then the GNP figure will certain drop considerably (maybe half of the whole lot). This is true because the richest people may share a large portion of the national income.
I agree with him in that the civil servants should be given greater attention because they are one of the most crucial elements of the national life.
P.W. HARTAYA
Purbalingga
West Java