SUNDANESE VOCABULARIES IN KAMUS URBAN INDONESIA: AN EFFORT TOWARD POSITIVE LANGUAGE ATTITUDE THROUGH LEXICOGRAPHIC TRANSLATION

Abstract

Kamus Urban Indonesia (An Indonesian Urban Dictionary) as one of lexicographic translation products also documented a certain local language vocabularies which were not found in any standard local language dictionaries. The lexicographic translation product accommodated language variations determined based on urban geographic area. Urban vocabularies of a local language documented in Indonesian dictionary might trigger local language speakers’ positive language attitude. The vocabularies might also be used as the last fortress of both Indonesian and English urban vocabularies exhortation that were daily exposed by media. This paper tried to describe potentials of Sundanese urban vocabularies triggering positive language attitude of its speakers, in term of Sundanese language maintenance. The writer found at least two characteristics of language attitude might be triggered by the dictionary, namely language loyalty which reflects the desire of entire speech community to retain its language and, if necessary, to defend it against foreign enrichment, and language pride which motivates individual or entire speech community to make his/their language as his/their identity, as well as distinguishing them from other communities.