Resilience of Indonesian Language
In the past, the absorption of words and terms into the Indonesian language was prioritized for words from the official language of the United Nations.
The use of foreign words and terms among speakers of the Indonesian language is increasingly spreading. In many texts, both spoken and written, there is often a foreign word or term that has not been formally included as part of the official Indonesian language.
This phenomenon has affected almost all speakers, as if there is an epidemic of foreign terms infecting the Indonesian language.
This condition leads to a fundamental question: Does it show the fragility of the Indonesian language or is it the speaker who does not have the power to defend themselves? Another question is: Are Indonesian language rules and speakers very accommodating to foreign words or terms?
Absorption of words or terms from foreign languages is certainly not something that is illegal and is even very common. A language grows and continues to develop because of enrichment from other languages.
In the past, the absorption of words and terms into the Indonesian language was prioritized for words from the official language of the United Nations.
Also read:
> Protecting the Language, Protecting the Indonesian Nation
> Protecting the Indonesian Language Together
Recently, this policy has changed along with the strong influence of other foreign languages and also the important role of regional languages. The political, economic and cultural strength of a country is one of the considerations.
Meanwhile, the movement of citizens from one region to another has expanded the use of words and terms from a regional language.
Apart from being a means of general communication and trade, the Indonesian language has been able to become the language of science, culture and literature.
Entering the age of 94 years, the Indonesian language has developed into a modern language. Apart from being a means of general communication and trade, the Indonesian language has been able to become the language of science, culture and literature.
The simplicity of concepts required in presenting ideas and findings can be facilitated by the rich vocabulary available in the Indonesian language. The Indonesian vocabulary has also provided more than enough choices to be used in literary works to show the beauty of using language.
Unfortunately, the growth of the Indonesian language into an advanced modern language is often tainted by the excessive passion of its speakers.
Language polluter
This contamination is certainly not done by ordinary people, because they are language users who are more loyal to their language. They will follow the language of the elite, such as scholars and bureaucrats.
Recently, the language behavior of ordinary people has been heavily influenced by celebrities, politicians and businessmen.
As far as I can observe, these four groups have, to a certain point, become the parties that pollute language. So many foreign words or terms they use are then imitated by ordinary speakers.
They have their reasons for using foreign words. For example, scholars said the use of foreign words was in order to maintain a level of scientific constancy of concepts. Meanwhile, the bureaucrats do it in order to maintain power relations with the citizens. As for celebrities and entrepreneurs, the use of the foreign words or terms has become a necessity to maintain popularity and profit.
It is true that young speakers are also language polluters. With their slang, they create a lot of new words and terms that often deviate from standard rules.
However, unlike the four groups mentioned above, the language of young speakers is only a temporary language. They will use words and terms for a certain period, which then disappears over time.
These young speakers will switch to a more conservative language as they get older and change their status, profession and social environment. They will be uncomfortable if they continue to use slang as they are more mature, having new roles that require the use of a more standardized language.
Such dynamic conditions will ensure the survival of a language.
However, the important role of all groups of speakers must be recognized. Ordinary speakers deserve a thumbs-up for being strong in their fidelity to language. Meanwhile, others play an important role in encouraging the emergence of language creativity and development. Such dynamic conditions will ensure the survival of a language.
The current concerns of the Indonesian language have also been experienced in other major languages, such as English, French and Japanese. In her book, Verbal Hygiene, English linguist Deborah Cameron examines language behavior of English speakers who are not very loyal to their language.
Cameron is concerned about the development of the English language, which has received so much influence from foreign languages that it doesn't sound like English anymore.
This condition triggers the emergence of a movement to purify language. The language purification movement has never succeeded. Activists are forced to submit to the strong waves and the strength of the speakers' language style. As a result, there is a lot of misguided use of language.
Strengthened endurance
Of course, in the midst of the current language pandemic, the strength to increase the durability of the Indonesian language needs to be done. The “language vaccine” is actually already available, which includes regulations, spelling systems, grammar and other linguistic tools.
Language activists are struggling to inject this “language vaccine” into every speaker of the language. The hope is that immunity will be formed in the form of the ability to filter out negative influences from outside.
However, the best vaccine that will strengthen the linguistic order for speakers is actually in themselves, namely in the form of a positive attitude toward the language. The erosion that occurs in a language always starts from the weak attitude of the speakers.
Language speakers feel inferior when using their own language or feel more prestigious when using a mix of foreign words or terms. It could be that this kind of language is not easy for the interlocutor to understand.
“Influencers” are indeed very important, considering that our society will be more obedient to the leaders or figures they admire. They will follow the examples seen or heard from their idols. Therefore, the dignity and effort to maintain the official state language is up to all of us as language users. Are we going to be the best role models or are we spreading the virus that will perpetuate the language pandemic?
E Aminudin Aziz
E Aminudin Aziz,Head of the Language Development and Training Agency at the Education, Culture, Research and Technology Ministry
This article was translated by Kurniawan Siswo.
