SBY, JK, Jokowi

 

SBY, JK, Jokowi

Each language has its own uniqueness. One of the apparent uniqueness of Indonesian is the massive use of abbreviations and acronyms. Abbreviation is a simple proses. It is the process of shortening a phrase by taking the initial letter of each word. DPR is the short version of Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat, DPL is taken from Dosen Pembimbing Lapangan, and KPK is formed from the phrase Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi. In short, abbreviation is initialism.

Acronym is a little bit different from abbreviation. It is the process of forming words by taking some parts of each word in a phrase. In general, there is no rules governing the acronymization. Despite it, I can note the most three commonly patterns in Indonesian. First, the acronym is formed by combining the first syllable of each word such as PROKER, taken from Program Kerja.

Second, the formation is by taking the first syllable of each word and added with 1 or 2 letters such as PUSKESMAS (Pu sat Ke-se-hat-an Ma-sya-ra-kat). The first syllable of the first word—Pu—is added with the first letter of the second syllable: -s, forming -pus. This is combined with the first syllable of the second word—Ke—added with one letter of the next syllable—s—forming a new ‘syllable’ –kes, and the third word—Ma—added with the first letter of the next syllable—s—becoming -mas, all of which form PUSKESMAS. 

The similar process is found in KORPRODI (Koordinator Program Studi). The word ‘koordinator’ has 5 syllables: ko-or-di-na-tor; ‘program’ has 2 syllables: pro-gram; ‘studi’ consists of stu-di. To shorten the first word, the first syllable—ko—is added with the second letter of the second syllable—r—becoming -kor. The -kor is combined with the first syllable of the second word—pro—and the last syllable of the third word: -di, all of which form a new word: KORPRODI.

Third, the formation is random, or there are no rules governing the form of acronyms. SAMSAT (Sistem Administrasi Manunggal Satu Atap) is one in point. The acronym is formed by combining the initial letter of the first three words: Sistem Administrasi Manunggal, forming SAM, and the first syllable of the fourth word—sa—added with the second letter of the last word: -t, all of which form SAMSAT.

So what? At least, there are two notes worth discussing. Abbreviation and acronym are never constant, nor fixed. One Indonesian word or may have a number of abbreviations or acronyms, depending on the context. The word perjalanan is abbreviated in -P in SPPD (Surat Perintah Perjalanan Dinas), but it turns into -perja in PERJADIN. The word ‘dosen’ is shortened into -D in DPL (Dosen Pembimbing Lapangan), but it turns into -dos in DOSPEM (Dosen Pembimbing).

The ease of the pronunciation is the main principle in the formation of abbreviations and acronyms. Koordinator Program Studi is shortened into Korprodi instead of KOPROSTU because Korprodi is easier to pronounce and nicer to listen. Dospem is clearer in the ears, and nicer to pronounce than Dopem. Third, there is no any institution having the authority to form abbreviations and acronyms. Any Indonesian speakers may create and spread abbreviations and acronyms. As long as the abbreviations are easy pronouncing and nice listening, they will be widely accepted.

All in all, language is one of the distinguishers between human and other creatures. Through language, we can see the human’s creativity in arranging words to form sentences, and in shortening phrases into abbreviations and acronyms. The massive use of abbreviations and acronyms suggests that Indonesians are linguistically creative. Almost all terms are likely to be shortened, abbreviated, and acronymized, including the symbols of the state: President and vice president. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Jusuf Kala, and Joko Widodo are three figures who were once and is still the symbols of the state whose names are abbreviated and acronymized: SBY, JK, Jokowi.

The use of language can be more efficient through abbreviations and synonyms. The energy to state long phrases can be reduced, and the space for writing them can be saved if we use abbreviations and acronyms. Besides, being shorter, a long term might get more memorable. Easy to memorize. Memorizing short terms is much easier and easier than memorizing the long ones. Short is indeed nice. Do you agree with me, Guys?

Malang, November 4, 2022