Respecting the Indonesian Language

KOMPAS/DEFRI WERDIONO

Lulut Edi Santoso, 54, displays a collection of his manuscripts at the Malang City Library, East Java, Thursday (19/9/2019).

The ever-expanding Indonesian language is something to be proud of. Nevertheless, there are still many things we must fix together.

As reported in this daily, the Language and Book Development Agency of the Education and Culture Ministry said that in the last three years there had been an increase in the number of Indonesian vocabulary entries. In 2017, the number of vocabulary entries and meanings in the Big Dictionary of Indonesian Language (KBBI) totaled 108,125 and 126,635 respectively, increasing to 110,173 vocabulary entries and 128,786 meanings in 2018. In 2019, the vocabulary entries increased to 110,538 and the number of meanings became 129,214.

This shows that the Indonesian language continues to dynamically develop, and with its flexibility is able to absorb vocabulary from local languages, vocabulary from the development of science and technology and even from slang.

The KBBI going online in recent years has also been very helpful as a reference for those who speak Indonesian, who number more than 250 million people. If there are some shortcomings, such as vocabulary that is already familiar but not yet included in the KBBI, it will be our challenge to improve it.

This is not easy to fix, but it is a reality we must face together.

It is also a challenge for us to have respect for the Indonesian language in the era of social media, which encourages the use of frivolous language that is often confusing. This is not easy to fix, but it is a reality we must face together.

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Blind students from SLB Yaketunis school for the disabled read books written in braille in the Braille Room of the Grhatama Pustaka Library, Bantul, Yogyakarta, Tuesday (8/10/2019). Activities involving students with visual impairments are held routinely to enable them to comfortably access information from the library

The issuance of Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 63/2019 concerning the use of the Indonesian language creates new hope the Indonesian language can be maintained and developed. In the regulation, many things are regulated, including the use of the Indonesian language during official speeches, its use in education activities and in various official documents. In fact, articles 33 and 37 of the Perpres regulate the obligation to use Indonesian in the naming of buildings, apartments, settlements, offices and educational institutions.

In fact, many violations of the Perpres occur, including the use of foreign languages for naming buildings, apartments, settlements and even educational institutions.

Unfortunately, the regulation issued in September 2019 does not regulate sanctions for violators. In fact, many violations of the Perpres occur, including the use of foreign languages for naming buildings, apartments, settlements and even educational institutions.

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We are not opposed to foreign languages. In fact, we agree with the opinion that we must master foreign languages and maintain our local languages, but we must prioritize the Indonesian language and respect it.

Honoring the Indonesian language is a shared responsibility. We can all play a role.