Exploring the Beauty of Language through Creative Exploitation of Informal Language

HUMANIORA – (13/9/2023) - As a homo ludens or a creature that enjoys playing, humans have the ability to create unique play tools, one of which is using language as the primary verbal communication tool. This was revealed by Prof. Dr. I Dewa Putu Wijana, a linguistics expert from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) Yogyakarta in a plenary session of the Annual International Conference on Language, Literature, and Media (AICOLLIM) ke-5 held on Wednesday, September 6, 2023.

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In his presentation, the UGM Indonesian Language Professor presented a thought-provoking topic titled "Humorous Aspects of Truck Container Signs in Indonesia." He explained how language is creatively exploited in truck container signs in Indonesia to create humor.

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Starting his presentation, Prof. Putu emphasized that language cannot be separated from its context. He believes that linguistic analysis is always related to form, function, and meaning.

“To fully understand language, we must understand its context. This involves discourse analysis, including an understanding of the symbols used in language,” he stated firmly.

Furthermore, Prof. Putu also stressed that the language we learn encompasses not only formal language but also informal language, including the language written on the back of trucks. Through his presentation, he invited participants to discover the beauty in the everyday use of language.

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Through careful research on container truck signs that traverse Indonesian highways, this Monash University, Melbourne, Australia alum revealed three ways sign makers use verbal humor, such as repetition, inversion, and mutual interference. According to him, this proves that language can be a powerful tool to evoke smiles and laughter from the audience.

"Humor can be a creative and unconventional way to disrupt our understanding of language," he said.

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He added, "Humor can be a powerful tool in communication, even in unexpected contexts."

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In this regard, Prof. Putu shared interesting cases such as writing on the back of a truck that combines the number of legislative candidates with local humor, creating a message that invites a smile.

"After waiting for quite some time, it turns out that my legislative candidate number is exactly the same as my blangkon number, which is 59. Alhamdulillah, hopefully it fits," he gave an example. "Heartbreak is normal, but when the brakes break, we die," he added, creating humor by combining love problems and vehicles.

He added, "In the end, those who fight will lose to those who have bears," which shows how language can play with meaning and successfully evoke smiles.

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In conclusion, Prof. Putu emphasized that analyzing language requires a deep interpretation, including aspects of grammar, semantics, morphology, and orthography.

"To reveal the beauty of language, we must master the competence in language metaphors, ambiguity, homonyms, and polysemy. This requires mastering these sciences to dig out hidden meanings in language," he stressed.

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Focused on research, Prof. Wijana delivered an important message that students should have valid data when analyzing research data, as language is empirical.

"The objects used in research, especially those related to oral and written language, must be valid and based on empirical facts," he said.

Prof. Wijana also emphasized the importance of diligently collecting data, writing it slowly, and continually improving knowledge through reading. He believes that perseverance will lead to success in exploring and uncovering the beauty of language.

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Prof. Wijana's presentation at AICOLLIM ke-5 was not only entertaining but also provided valuable insights into language and its everyday use. The conference continues to be a platform for exploration and new discoveries in the world of language, literature, and media. [al]