Bahasa Indonesia and Information Technology

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 »  Articles Overview  »  Technology  »  Localization and Globalization  »  Bahasa Indonesia and Information Technology

Bahasa Indonesia and Information Technology

By Portalkata | Published  11/11/2010 | Localization and Globalization | Recommendation:RateSecARateSecARateSecARateSecIRateSecI
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Quicklink: http://ben.proz.com/doc/3121
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Portalkata
ইন্দোনেশিয়া
‍ইন্দোনেশিয়ান থেকে ‍ইংরেজি translator
 
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Language is not merely a national identity that live without effect, so that the existence of language strong against elements of other languages. Any languages are determined to be non-sterile from the reciprocity effect. One language may be affected or may affect. Interaction in globalization during the last 10 years seems felt in bahasa Indonesia. The role of technology especially information technology call it (for example), Internet devices, mobile phones, computer software, and other technology products are very much affect the use of language. Moreover, one technical language could even affect the vocabulary in everyday language dialogue. For example, the use of terms: cancel, pending, and so on.

Regardless of whether the term originated from the technology product or not, but it must be admitted that the use by Indonesian depart from the technology itself. Word “cancel”, for example, is obtained by Indonesian not from dictionaries, but from daily use of computer which then often used as terms in daily activities. For example, “Karena alasan sesuatu hal, pertemuan kita cancel saja dulu,” or “Sebaiknya kita pending dulu pertemuan kita sampai ada jawaban yang pasti,” and so on.

Use of such vocabularies has a place in certain community, especially teen generation as well as the older ones. One that stimulates the growing of proliferation of the use of foreign terms, said language experts, is often caused by lifestyle trends. Behind the interests of this lifestyle, having explored more in depth, was usually arise due to the inferior attitude of Indonesian nation against the foreign nations, and one of such attitudes is in the use of English terms.

It must be admitted that the Indonesian today have the attitude that said by many cultural observers called as inlander attitude toward foreign. English terms itself become part of the identity of modernity. We know the Indonesian (especially the middle class) mostly have the attitude of pro-modernity in some respects, such as the use of technology, fashion, lifestyle and language, but it’s very hard to be modern in the way of life in the context of culture (more specifically is the work ethic).

I do not speak ill of this. This is just being honest effort on the part of cultural reality and in this view there is no intention to generalize anything, but just wanted to show a widespread phenomenon in the area of culture life, so that when assessing the tradition of the use of language, we can see the maps clearly.
Beyond that we also really need to see another principle aspect of the easy absorption of foreign words in Indonesian.

One underlying reason is because bahasa Indonesian is very much younger language than others (English, Dutch, Arabic, Chinese, etc.) which is recognized by linguists and historians as an incomplete language to be placed side by side with any other old languages.

In colloquial use, elements of Arabic and English are quite dominant. Even on its own state symbols, there are so many foreign terms either English or Arabic. “Dewan,” “Pemusyawaratan,” “Hikmah,” is a few sample of Arabic words used in Indonesia.

***

Technology not only affects the mutation of the use of terms, but also (this is somewhat unique) to slight limitation on use of text language (written language) with spoken language. The use of short message communication, email, social networking, and other tools and devices make written language (formal and semi-formal) deal with the written spoken-language. The written spoken-language is characterized by spoken pronouncing but in written form. This is contrast sharply different from the formal language which the use is very concerned about the rules of language while written oral language far from the rule. Such effects, overtime, become a separate trend, which will change very rapidly from month to month. Especially for teenage children, adolescents, and young adulthood, such kind of language is very familiar in daily use. Even so enjoyable to use, most of book publishing, print and electronic media facilitate the use of oral language.*


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