RATIONALE
Slang is a part of sociolinguistics area. Slang is language particular to a group. Every group has special side of their language. We have experienced some slang are changing the rules, sources and pronunciation, at least every decade. Similarly, the circles use the codes for certain professions. This is a parole, a system outside of the standard language. From the positive side, parole shows the creativity of language.
We know this kind of language through the mass media, for example newspapers, magazines, radio and television. There is also regarded this as a setback, because it is damaging the standard language.
The phenomenon that will be observed is Alay language in Indonesia which very popular in these several years. Alay is a kind of slang language. Usually using Alay shows the community which the speaker in.
Have you ever read sentence like this?, “mhS5wku, 5y4 hr1 1n 4d4 rApT, jd kLh dt4d4k4n YacH ?????”. We need several minutes to read and understand what the meaning of that sentence. Actually the sentence mean is” mahasiswaku saya hari ini ada rapat, jadi kuliah ditiadakan ya”.
This phenomenon of language is really sad. Many countries outside learn Bahasa Indonesia and sometimes until they are struggling just to learn Bahasa Indonesia from the first hand. While we are as Indonesian itself who understand bahasa Indonesia, but in fact many people of Indonesia from Sabang to Merauke are more dominant use Bahasa Indonesia which has change or usually called as Bahasa Gaul (slang) or in this research Bahasa Alay as a part of Bahasa Gaul. It is a sad fact.
If we trace Bahasa Indonesia is the third hardest language in Asia and the fifthteen in the world.[1] We should be grateful and not eliminate sentences in Bahasa Indonesia little by little in social conversations or in other activities. We also have to preserve and cultivate the raw of Bahasa Indonesia correctly. Do not just because of prestige, Bahasa Indonesia will be eliminated.
Many years we studied Bahasa Indonesia in formal education, but in reality every day we do not use Bahasa Indonesia properly. It is ironic that we as Indonesian let alone Bahasa Indonesia, so who will be care of this language if we are not. We know that Indonesia is one of the largest populations in the world, a hope to guard this langauge still exist in the future.
From that fact, the writer feel challenge to observe about this phenomenon, what term usually use in Bahasa alay especially the spelling which really complicated and almost damage the original language of Bahasa Indonesia.
THEORITICAL REVIEW
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo (see euphemism). It is often used to identify with one's peers and, although it may be common among young people, it is used by people of all ages and social groups.
Few linguists have endeavoured to clearly define what constitutes as slang. Attempting to remedy this, Bethany K. Dumas and Jonathan Lighter (1978) argue that an expression should be considered "true slang" if it meets at least two of the following criteria:
§ It lowers, if temporarily, "the dignity of formal or serious speech or writing"; in other words, it's likely to be considered in those contexts a "glaring misuse of register."
§ Its use implies that the user is familiar with whatever is referred to, or with a group of people who are familiar with it and use the term.
§ "It's a taboo term in ordinary discourse with people of a higher social status or greater responsibility."
§ It replaces "a well-known conventional synonym". This is done primarily to avoid discomfort caused by conventional phrases or by further elaboration[2]
Slang can be regional (that is, used only in a particular territory), but slang terms are often particular instead to a certain subculture, such as music or video gaming. Nevertheless, slang expressions can spread outside their original areas to become commonly used, like "cool" and "jive." While some words eventually lose their status as slang (the word "mob", for example, began as a shortening of Latin mobile vulgus[3]), others continue to be considered as such by most speakers. When slang spreads beyond the group or subculture that originally used it, its original users often replace it with other, less-recognised terms to maintain group identity.
One use of slang is to circumvent social taboos, as mainstream language tends to shy away from evoking certain realities. For this reason, slang vocabularies are particularly rich in certain domains, such as violence, crime, drugs, and sex. Alternatively, slang can grow out of mere familiarity with the things described.[4]
Even within a single language community, slang, and the extent to which it is used, tends to vary widely across social, ethnic, economic, and geographic strata. Slang may fall into disuse over time; sometimes, however, it grows more and more common until it becomes the dominant way of saying something, at which time it usually comes to be regarded as mainstream, acceptable language (e.g. the Spanish word caballo), although in the case of taboo words there may not be an expression which is considered mainstream or acceptable.[5] Numerous slang terms pass into informal mainstream speech, and sometimes into formal speech, though this may involve a change in meaning or usage.
Slang very often involves the creation of novel meanings for existing words. It is common for such novel meanings to diverge significantly from the standard meaning. Thus, "cool" and "hot" can both mean "very good," "impressive," or "good-looking".
Slang terms are often known only within a clique or ingroup. For example, Leet ("Leetspeak" or "1337") was originally popular only among certain Internet subcultures, such as crackers and online video gamers. During the 1990s, and into the early 21st century, however, Leet became increasingly more commonplace on the Internet, and it has spread outside Internet-based communication and into spoken languages. Other types of slang include SMS language used on mobile phones, and "chatspeak," (e.g., "LOL", an acronym meaning "laughing out loud" or "laugh out loud" or ROFL, "rolling on the floor laughing"), which is widely used in instant messaging on the Internet.
The origin of the word slang is uncertain. Therefore slang occurs everywhere not only in English but also almost in languages in this world including Bahasa Indonesia.Indonesia has diverse cultures and languages, from many diverse cultures, Indonesian society united with tha Bahasa Indonesia. As national and official language, Bahasa Indonesia is mentioned in the Constitution of the Republik of Indonesia 1945, article 36 that it is also the unity language as referred to Youth Pledge, Oktober 28, 1928. Indonesia is a dynamic language that continues to absord the words rather than foreign languages.
The term first appeared Alay language of the largest online discussion forum in Indonesia, namely kaskus.com. Alay is acronym from Anak Layangan, Anak Lebay and Anak Kelayapan which is related with children who rarely go home. The term used to describe a child who feels cool in dress, music and behavior in general.
Some people think that using alay language can increase their prestige. Actually we can not avoid slang, but does not slang shift the national language. Therefore, an analysis of Alay langauge is needed to give us information about it and solution to face the cricis Bahasa Indonesia as national language that occurs shifting in its own country.
ANALYSIS AND RESULT
There are so many words that exist as Alay Language in Indonesia. Please give more attention to the spelling and pronunciation word, because they are very complicated and broke the rule of Bahasa Indonesia.
Aja : Ja, Ajj - Yang : Iank/Iang, Eank/Eang ( iiank/iiang) - Gue : W, Wa, Q, Qu, GLo : U - Boleh : Leh - Telepon : Tilp
Ini : Iniyh, Nc - Ketawa : wkwkwk, xixixi, haghaghag, w.k.k.k.k.k. , wkowkowkwo
Nggak : Gga, Gax, Gag, Gz
Hai : Ui
SMS : ZMZ, XMX, MZ
Lagi : Ghiy, Ghiey, Gi
Belum : Lom, Lum
Cape : Cppe, Cpeg
Kan : Khan, Kant, Kanz
Manis : Maniezt, Manies
Cakep : Ckepp
Keren : Krenz, Krent
Kurang : Krang, Krank (Crank?)
Tau : Taw, Tawh, Tw Bokep : Bokebb
Dulu : Duluw
Chat : C8
Tempat : T4
Sempat : S4
Apa : Pa, PPa (PPa ???)
Tapi : PPi
Mengeluh : Hufft
Baru : Ru
Rumah : Humz, Hozz
Ya/Iya : Yupz, Ia, Iupz
Kok : KoQ, KuQ, Kog, Kug
Nih : Niyh, Niech, Nieyh
Tuh : Tuwh, Tuch
Deh : Dech, Deyh Lucu : Luthu, Uchul, Luchuw
Khusus : Khuzuz
Kalian : Klianz
Nya, contoh : misalnya, jadi misalna, misal’a, misal.a
Imut : Imoetz, Mutz
Loh : Loch, Lochkz, Lochx
Gitu : Gtw, Gitchu, Gituw
Salam : Lam
Kenal : Nal
Add : Et, Ett ( usually asking to add their friendster)
Banget : Bangedh, Beud, Beut
Cowok : Cwokz
Karena/Soalnya : Coz, Cz
Makan : Mumz, Mamz
Yuk : Yuq, Yuqz, Yukz
Lupa : Lupz
Udah : Dagh
Kamu : Kamuh, Kamyu, Qmu, Kamuwh
Aku : Akyu, Akuwh, Akku, (Asu)
Maaf : Mu’uv, Muupz, Muuv
Sorry : Cowwyy, Sowry
Siapa : Sppa, Cppa, Cpa, Spa
Kakak : Kakagg
Pasti : Pzt
Anak : Nax, Anx, Naq
Cuekin : Cuxin
Curhat : Cvrht
Terus : Rus, Tyuz, Tyz
Tiap : Tyap
Kalau : Kaluw, Klw, Low
Setiap : Styp
Main : Men
Sih : Siech, Sieyh, Ciyh
Dong : Dumz, Dum
Buat : Wat, Wad
Cewek : Cwekz
Reply : Repp
Halo : Alow
Sayang : Saiank, Saiang
Masuk : Suk, Mzuk, Mzug, Mzugg
Punya : Pya, P’y
Paling : Plink, P’ling
Love : Luph, Luff, Loupz, Louphh
Below are several sentences who really complicated not only to read but also to understand:
QmO dLaM iDopQhO (kamu dalam hidupku..)k’tHwA„„„„„„„� ��„„ (ketawa…)
cNeNk…………….. (dan senang)
tHanKz b’4„„„„„„ (thanks before, terimakasih sebelumnya)
yOz aLaWAiCe d bEzT……………. (you always the best, kamu selalu yang terbaik -ALAWAICE? WTF?)
iN meYe heArD„„„„„„, (in my heart, dalam hatiku -)
q tWo……………… (aku tau……)
qMo mANk cLiD wAd cYanK m qHo…………. (kamu memang sulit buat sayang sama aku…)
tPhE qMo pLu tHwO„„„ (tapi kamu perlu tau….)
mY LuPi”………… (my love, cintaku, lupi lupi di kuping gue kedengerannya kayak permen yupi) aLwaYs 4’U…………… (always for you, cuman buat kamu)
cO’nA cMa qMo YaNk Co WaD qHo cYuM………… (soalnya cuma kamu yang cowo buat aku senyum
tHo_tHo………….. (dadah)
LupHz yOu„„„„„„, (love you, sayang kamu)
bU_bU„„„„„„(bubu)
satu lagi..
satu lagi deh…
TaKe mE 2 yOuR hEaRtZzz???? ????????? ????? (take me to your heart, bawa aku ke dalam hatimu)
cXnK qMoh tO cKiDnAAAAaaaAaAaaaa……. (sayang kamu tuh sakitnya…)
m_tHa apOn YoH……………… (minta ampun ya…)
I’m ReGrEeEeeEEeeEet nOw……………. (aku menyesal sekarang)
naFaZ„„„„„„„„� ��, (napas)
bNcHi qOh nGmBAnK………………. (benci aku ngambang)
hOeKkkKKk…………….. (sound effect muntah, HOEEEKK -tuh kan muntah HAHA)
.
nPhA jDe gnE????????? ?????? (mengapa jadi begini?)
i dOn’t LiKe tHaT………….. (I don’t like that, aku tidak suka itu)
ckIdDDdddDDDd„„„„„� �, „„„„„„„„„„ „„„ „„ (SAKIIIIIIT!
pGEn qOh tO bLanK……………………. . (pengen aku tuh bilang)
U bLOkE mY hEaLtH!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! ! (you bloke my health, kamu cowokesehatanku, atau kamu merusak kesehatanku? -HAHAHAHAHA YOU BROKE MY HEART KOK JADI YOU BLOKE MY HEALTH)
i tHinK…………….. (aku pikir…)
it’Z DISGUSTING vOiCE……………….. (itu suara menjijkan )
anDeE…………………. (andaiii…)
adJA g2 dRe wAL…………….. (aja gitu dari awal)
qTaH gAg mKeN dIEM”aN gNe tOh???!?@??@ ?@??@@?@? (kita ga makin diem
dieman gini tho’?)
qOh g Mo iDoP dLAM kmNfqAn………. (aku ga mau hidup dalam kemunafikan-WUESSS angin berhembus)
tHiZ iZ buLLsHiT!!!! !!!!!!! (this is bullshit!, ini semua omong
kosong!!! -penuh amarah membara)
sHiT!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!! !!!! (shit!!!!!! TA* )
SADAM WITHOUT WORD!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !! (sadam without word, sadam tanpa kata -WTF tiba tiba bawa sadam? ato DIAM maksudnya? oh diam deh kayaknya)
HAifTf……………… (huff)
qoH tLuZ”aN uCHA bWaD tTeP qEqEUh cXnK qMo………. (aku terus terusan berusaha buat tetep kekeuh sayang kamu…)
bUD„„„„„„„„„ , (but, tetapi…)
hUhuHuHfTFTf………….. .. (huft huft)
cIa” adJA………………… (sia sia aja -CIA?)
shIt???????? ???? (TA*??????)
maYbe??????? ???????? (maybe, mungkin????? )[6]
From the examples of words and sentences above writer can conclude that Alay language here is combination of change, borrowing, developing and adapting language from one to another. However, Alay is complicated term to use and understand especially the spelling. Some letter is changed to number, for instance 1 = I, 4 = A, 5 = S, 8 = B, 6 = G and soon.
In general, Alay has two specific principles. Firstly, reducing the letter in a word. For example, “salam kenal” just written as “l4m Nal” it is so economical. This economical principle has background from the glowing of communication through short message service (SMS). With the save point will reduce the letters that are made in SMS will have implications for the saving credits.
But even if the Alayner (the user of alay) put forward the principle of economical, the users still struggle to show they look cool and sophisticated in writing the sentence. Therefore some letters were modified and replaced by other letters or number. Sample letter “k” will be replaced with “q” or the letter “s” replaced with “z” or “c”.
Perhaps, one of causes of the weakness that hit Bahasa Indonesia is young people language skill of this nation is getting a mass in the ‘treat’ Bahasa Indonesia. The phenomenon of slang, or Alay language who adapted by some young people in big cities increasingly chaotic.
Alay language is ‘still’ in Bahasa Indonesia but used in a form that is far from standard, even impressed arbitrarily and abused Bahasa Indonesia itself. Alay languge usually is used when sending messages (SMS), chatting, writing status in social networks and even often used in every day conversations.
Human creats a culture that value to life. So, how do we cultivate Bahasa Indonesia? Yes we have to make Bahasa Indonesia a value of life. Of course, we must convince that Bahasa Indonesia as national language is more important as the identity of the nation, not just to achieve a career, job or just for prestiges.
The culture of a nation is closely linked with civilization, and civilization of a nation known for its language. Thus, to survive or failure of a civilization depends on the community in maintaining the language. Hopefully no more Bahasa Indonesian (positioned) to be a guest in our own home.
[1] http://www.indowebster.web.id/archive/index.php/t-195961.html?s=c566526de77eb52c88a2f1b1eb693ac3 retrieved 15/01/2012, 14:46
[2] Dumas, Bethany K.; Lighter, Jonathan (1978). "Is Slang a Word for Linguists?". American Speech 53 (5): 14–15.
[3] http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=mob retrieve 16/01/2012, 05.00 am
[4] Croft, William (2000) Explaining Language Change: An Evolutionary Approach. Harlow: Longman: 75-6.
[5] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slang#cite_ref-Dumas.26Lighter_0-0 retrieved 15/01/2012, 18.34