Penciptaan Istilah dan Akal Budi Melayu (Terminological Coinage and The Malay Mind)

Abstract

ABSTRAK: Kemajuan sesuatu bangsa selari dengan perkembangan ilmu yang dibina oleh bangsa itu sendiri. Sehubungan dengan itu, peristilahan dibentuk bagi menyokong perbendaharaan kata bagi setiap ilmu yang dikembangkan. Bagaimanakah orang dahulu mencipta istilah sebelum adanya rumus dan peraturan? Kelahiran ratusan kitab karya agung membuktikan masyarakat dahulu sudah boleh mencipta dan membina istilah. Kajian membuktikan masyarakat Melayu dahulu mencipta istilah berdasarkan pengalaman mereka berinteraksi dengan alam. Daripada situ mereka membina konsepkonsep tertentu, selaras dengan gaya hidup orang Melayu ketika itu. Contohnya, sebagai masyarakat yang mahir dalam selok-belok pelayaran, maka terciptalah istilah jurumudi dan keahlian dalam menilik serta mengubat pesakit pula mewujudkan istilah ahli nujum. Dalam konteks peristilahan masa kini, awalan ‘juru’, ‘ahli’, ‘pakar’, ‘pandai’ dan ‘tukang’, yang kesemua bermaksud ‘orang yang memiliki kepandaian’, mampu membentuk istilah baharu, seperti jururawat, pakar bedah, ahli kimia, dan tukang kimpal. Kajian mendapati, hasil menganalogi sesuatu istilah, maka terbentuklah istilah baharu yang menepati konsep, di samping mengekalkan ragam kemelayuan. Hal ini dapat dikaitkan dengan penciptaan kearifan tempatan dan akal budi Melayu (intelektual Melayu). Misalnya, istilah yang berkaitan dengan penciptaan bedil atau senapang, istilah tembikar dan istilah tenunan. Rantaian istilah yang tercipta sangat berkaitan dengan ilmu yang hendak disampaikan dan hal inilah yang disebut sebagai perekayasaan bahasa. Ironinya, disebabkan manusia Melayu tidak lagi mencipta, maka istilah yang terjelma lebih bersifat keinggerisan. Entah sama ada konsep istilahnya tiada dalam ruang lingkup budaya Melayu atau kerana selesa menggunakan bahasa Inggeris. Walhal, sudah ada Pedoman Umum Pembentukan Istilah Bahasa Melayu (1995) yang dapat memandu ke arah pembentukan istilah yang lebih sesuai dengan lidah dan budaya Melayu.

Kata kunci: Istilah; analogi; akal budi Melayu; rantaian ilmu; perekayasaan

ABSTRACT: The progress of a nation is consistent with the development of knowledge built by the nation itself. Accordingly, terms are established to support the vocabulary of each discipline that has been developed. How did early man form the terms before rules and guideline existed? The birth of hundreds of great works of scripture proves that the people of ancient times were able to create and construct terms. Studies have proven that the early Malays created terms based on their experience interacting with nature. From there, they build certain concepts, in accordance with the lifestyle of the Malays then. For example, as a community skilled in the art of sailing, thus the term ‘jurumudi’ (navigator) came into being, and the expertise in forecasting and treating patients, the term ‘ahli nujum’ (astrologer) was coinaged. In the context of modern terminology, the prefixes of ‘juru’, ‘ahli’, ‘pakar’, ‘pandai’ and ‘tukang’, all of which means ‘persons of expertise’, are capable of forming new terms, such as jururawat (nurses), pakar bedah (surgeons), ahli kimia (chemists), and tukang kimpal (welders). Studies have shown, by making analogies of a term, new terms which fulfil the concept, while maintaining the Malay culture, are formed. These efforts can be associated with the creation of local wisdom and Malay minds. Some examples are terms related to the manufacture of rifles or guns, terms of pottery and that of weaving. The chain of terms coinage is very relevant to the knowledge to be conveyed and this is what is called language engineering. Ironically, because the Malays no longer create, terms which are more related to English have emerged. It is unknown, whether the term is not in the scope of Malay culture or users are comfortable using the English Language. In spite of the fact that there are existing the Guidelines for the Formation of Terms in Malay (1995) which can be a driving factor towards the creation of terminology more appropriate with the Malay tongue and culture.

Keywords: Terminology; analogy; Malay mind; knowledge chain; engineering