Anton M. Moeliono: JP/Setiono Sugiharto

He has been dubbed the guru of all gurus, the pereksa (the guardian) and champion of the Indonesian language. Some call him a creative neologist; others refer to him simply as “the walking dictionary”.

Anton Moeliono, the man with a dozen sobriquets, was the face of state-owned TVRI television program Siaran Pembinaan Bahasa Indonesia (The Cultivation of the Indonesian Language Broadcast) between 1973 and 1977.

“Cultivating one’s language is vital because it can become a valuable conduit helping people use language in a correct and intelligent way,” Anton says.

Language prescriptivism enthusiasts are undoubtedly acquainted with Anton’s Santun Bahasa (proper language), a language column published in the daily newspaper Kompas between 1968 and 1971.

A Cornell University graduate, Anton became a noted figure when he chaired the commission that eventually gave birth to the 1972 spelling reform and the Ejaan yang Disempurnakan (perfected spelling) introduced and officiated by then president Soeharto on Independence Day.

Among other Indonesian noted linguists — such as Harimurti Kridalaksana, his former student, and the late Amran Halim, his erstwhile mentor — Anton is probably the most progressive scholar who painstakingly fights to preserve the Indonesian language as well as the archipelago’s hundreds of dialects.

“I want Indonesians to be proud of their national language, and making sure Indonesian is used is one of the most effective ways to safeguard it,” Anton says.

Anton’s seemingly conservative language philosophy is in sharp contrast to that of Indonesia’s great poet the late Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana, who espoused the use of Western languages as a means to modernize Indonesian.

James Sneddon, a professor in language and linguistics at Griffith University, in Australia, once said, “The major difference between them was that Alisjahbana was an internationalist who rejected the past, while Moeliono was a nationalist who wanted to build on the past.”

During Anton’s term as chairman of the Pusat Bahasa (Indonesian Language Center), between 1984 and 1989, the center publicized a significant number of local words that could be substituted for foreign words pervading the Indonesian language. Apart from print and electronic media, the center also disseminated information about the correct use of Indonesian in its Lembar Komunikasi monthly newsletter.

It was under his watch that the Language Center contributed significantly to the development of the Indonesian language. Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia (The Great Indonesian Dictionary) containing 62,000 entries was published for the first time in 1988. In the same year, under the auspices of the Education Ministry, the center launched Tata Bahasa Baku Bahasa Indonesia (Standard Grammar of Indonesia), the reference book for the standard use of Indonesian, edited by Anton.
However, many of the language policies issued under his tenure reaped controversy. His preference for Indonesian words was deemed by many as an attempt to instill a purist attitude to language.

Moreover, Anton’s fervent campaigning for the correct and logical use of language gave the impression he was a zealous proponent of prescriptivism. But Anton objects to people labeling him a purist.

“Those who accuse me of being purist just don’t understand what the word means,” says the language expert.

“My philosophy is to make the use of expressions, words and grammar consistent among language users. I want to codify and streamline the use of our language. The more streamlined the language is, the easier it is to learn and to use it as a means of communication.

“My recommendation to use Indonesian words instead of foreign ones doesn’t mean I dislike foreign words. I’m not against borrowing. If the concept cannot be replaced, I’d be happy to import.”

He concedes that sometimes “foreign words sound better than local [Indonesian] words” and replaces them only if used incorrectly. “Words borrowed from foreign languages, such as efektif and efisien, sound okay to me, compared to their respective equivalents mangkus and sangkil.”

Now a consultant at the Language Center, Anton also stresses the center’s role is not to formulate language rules, but tell people how to use Indonesian correctly and intelligently.

Anton’s prowess in finding local words to replace foreign ones is greatly acknowledged not only by his contemporaries, but also by the public in general. National and international linguists have praised him for his contribution toward modernizing Indonesian.

Many of the words and expressions he has coined are now in common everyday use, such as tenggat (deadline), canggih (sophisticated), kudapan (snack), and penyelia (supervisor).

Anton recalls his linguistic skills once drew the attention of one of Soeharto’s ministers.

“I was once called by the secretary of the minister of industry, who asked me, on the minister’s behalf, to find the Indonesian equivalent of the English word ‘engineering’. I told her to give me seven minutes to think about it before calling me back,” Anton says.  

“Having referred to a number of Indonesian dictionaries, I came up with the word rekayasa, and the minister was happy.”

Of course, not all his suggestions convinced the public.

“I once proposed the English word ‘catering’ be replaced by jasa boga, but nobody seems to use it.”

As a language guru, Anton has played a role in rearing some the country’s noted linguists, such as Harimurti Kridalaksana, Benny H. Hoed, Hasan Alwi, and Dendy Sugono. Now 80 and an emeritus professor, Anton doesn’t seem to want to give up his regular academic activities — teaching, supervising students and writing.

“I’m still supervising a doctorate student at the University of Indonesia now, and the Language Center is still employing me as its consultant,” he says.

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