THE REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 1 Definition of Language
2. THE REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 2.1 Definition of Language
Language can be defined as a means to deliver something that comes in the heart. it means that the language as an instrument to deliver thoughts, ideas,
concepts or feelings to be conveyed to others. Keraf 1997:1 says, “Bahasa adalah alat komunikasi antara anggota
masyarakat berupa simbol bunyi yang dihasilkan oleh alat ucap manusia.” that language is placed as a means of communication between people to express their
thoughts or feeling by using the symbols the form communication by voice, gestures posture, or signs of writing.
Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia KBBI, 1990: 66 says, “Bahasa diartikan sebagai sistem lambang bunyi berartikulasi yang bersifat sewenang-
wenang dan konvensional yang dipakai sebagai alat komunikasi untuk melahirkan perasaan dan pikiran.” that language is placed as a means of
communication between people to express their thoughts or feeling by using the symbols the form communication by voice, gestures posture, or signs of
writing. Kridalaksana 1993:21 says, “Bahasa sebagai sebuah sistem lambang
bunyi yang arbitrer, yang dipergunakan oleh para anggota suatu masyarakat untuk bekerja sama, berinteraksi, dan mengidentifikasikan diri.” Pei
dan Gaynor 1975:119 says, “ Language is bahasa adalah A system of communication by sound, i.e., through the organs of speech and hearing, among
human beings of certain group or community, using vocal symbols possessing
Universitas Sumatera Utara
arbitrary conventional meaning.“ From the view of the linguist like Kridalaksana, Pei and Gaynor above, Language can emphasized as a symbol system. The term
system contains the meaning existence and regularity of the constituent elements. Rakhmat 1992:269 says, a communications expert, look at the language
of the two sides of the formal and functional. Formally, “Bahasa diartikan sebagai semua kalimat yang terbayangkan, yang dibuat menurut tatabahasa.”
While formally, “Bahasa diartikan sebagai alat yang dimiliki bersama untuk mengungkapkan gagasan.” Definition that is supposed by Rakhmat seemed try to
summarize common meaning by linguists opinion. The term of formal side presented by Rakhmat similar to the term system, whereas the functional sides of
the same with language as a communication device. Wardhaugh, says language is “A System of aribtrary vocal symbols used
for human communication.” Broader depiction of the language ever was delivered by the father of modern linguistics, Ferdinan de Saussure. He explains the
language by using the three-term langage, Langue and parole. The third terms of the French language in Indonesian paired with only one term, namely “language”.
Langage is the system symbol of the sound that is used to communicate and interact verbally. This langage is abstract. Term of langue refers to system symbol
of particular sound that is used by a member of particular social group. Whereas parole is the concrete form of langue is used in form of speech or utterances by
members of the public with each other. Fodor 1974 says,“Bahasa adalah system simbol dan tanda. “ The
meaning of a symbol system is a symbol of the relationship with the conventional
Universitas Sumatera Utara
meaning. While the definition of system of signs that a relationship is not conventional signs and meanings, but is determined by the nature or particular
characteristics possessed of objects or situation referred. In a word Indonesian cecak has a causal relationship with animals. it means, the animal is called cecak
because his voice sounds like cak-cak-cak. Therefore, cecak is called sign not a symbol. Fodor further said that language problems are problems of meaning.
Bolinger 1981 says, “Bahasa memiliki system fonem, yang terbentuk dari distinctive features bunyi, system morfem dan sintaksis. Untuk
mengungkapkan makna bahasa harus berhubungan dengan dunia luar.” The meaning of Dunia Luar is a world outside the world of languages including
speakers themselves. World within the meaning like this is called reality. It means that the relationship between reality and language. While reality includes
everything that is beyond language. Reality is probably manifested in the form of abstract language, because there is no language without meaning. While, meaning
is the result of the relationship of language and reality. Felicia 2001:1 says, “Bahasa merupakan alat yang digunakan untuk
berkomunikasi sehari-hari, baik bahasa lisan maupun bahasa tulis.” It means the spoken, communication made by two or more persons who each other face to face
directly and no spacing or limiting their equipment. The spoken is happens when two or more people talking dialogue, during interview, meeting, speech. While
writing, communication is done through writing without talks directly in a language that brief, Clear, and understandable to the recipient. Written
communications may include letters, text messages, electronic mail, and so on.
Universitas Sumatera Utara
Sunaryo 2000:6 says, “Bahasa didalam struktur budaya ternyata memiliki kedudukan, fungsi dan peran ganda yaitu sebagai akar dan produk
budaya yang sekaligus berfungsi sebagai sarana berfikir dan sarana pendukung pertumbuhan dan perkembangan ilmu pengetahuan dan teknologi.” It means is
without language including Indonesian science can not grow and thrive. Moreover, in the structure of Indonesian culture, it has a position, functions, and
the dual role that is as root and cultural products that also functions as a means of thinking and means of supporting growth and development of science and
technology. Without such blemish language role, Science and technology will not be evolve. The implication in the development of thinking power, infrastructure to
make language as modern thinking. Therefore, if meticulously in using language, We will be meticulously in thinking anyway because language is a mirror of the
power of reason mind. Owen says, “Language can be defined as a socially shared combinations
of those symbols and rule governed combinations of those symbols.” It means that the language can be defined as a socially acceptable code or conventional systems
to deliver concepts through the use of symbols and the desired combination of symbols that are arranged by the provisions.
Tarigan 1989:4, he gives two definitions of language. “Pertama, bahasa adalah suatu sistem yang sistematis, barang kali juga untuk sistem
generatif. Kedua, bahasa adalah seperangkat lambang-lambang mana suka atau simbol-simbol arbitrer.” Systematic is that language is composed according to a
pattern that is not arranged randomly or arbitrary. While systemic means that
Universitas Sumatera Utara
language is not a single system, but also consist of sub-systems or subordinate system, such as sub-system phonology, morphological subsystem, subsystem
syntactic, semantic subsystems. Then, each elements of the subsystems are also arranged according to the rules or a particular pattern, the overall form a system.
If did not arranged according to rules or particular patterns, Meanwhile, arbitrary defined as the absence of a direct relationship is compulsory between symbol with
which it symbolism. In other words, the relationship between language and form of the object only based on the agreement between the speakers of the language in
the language is concerned. Santoso 1990:1 says, “Bahasa adalah rangkaian bunyi yang dihasilkan
oleh alat ucap manusia secara sadar.” It means, the words are come out of a human mouth every day to communicate to inflict feelings and thoughts which
will be disclosed to the other person.
Wibowo 2001:3 says, “Bahasa adalah sistem simbol bunyi yang bermakna dan berartikulasi dihasilkan oleh alat ucap yang bersifat arbitrer dan
konvensional, yang dipakai sebagai alat berkomunikasi oleh sekelompok manusia untuk melahirkan perasaan dan pikiran.” The same with Walija 1996:4 says,
“Bahasa ialah komunikasi yang paling lengkap dan efektif untuk menyampaikan ide, pesan, maksud, perasaan dan pendapat kepada orang lain.” It means, the
language as a series of sound. in this case, we are using the sound as a means to communicate, communication by using the sound is also called verbal
communication and human society with the sound communication tool is called
Universitas Sumatera Utara
verbal community. Language is a symbol of a series of the sound which is form a certain sense. Series of the sound are we know as the word represents a particular
object. The human are collecting these symbols and compose a vocabulary the accumulation of experience and their thoughts. This is what causes namely
language continues to developing due to the experience human thought are also growing. The existence of symbols that allows people to think and learn better. So,
the language is not only human beings can think regularly but also can communicate what we are thinking to others, also language we are can express
our feelings and attitudes.
Puspitasari 2002 says, language is considered as a system that contains the meaning way or the rules. System means that regular arrangement pattern to
form an overall that is systematic, which means language is not structured according to a random pattern. System means that language is not a single system.
it means that the language has a lot of systems that are used as instruments or symbols to communicate.
Syamsuddin 1986:2 says, “Bahasa memiliki dua pengertian. Pertama, bahasa adalah alat yang dipakai untuk membentuk pikiran dan perasaan,
keinginan dan perbuatan-perbuatan, alat yang dipakai untuk mempengaruhi dan dipengaruhi. Kedua, bahasa adalah tanda yang jelas dari kepribadian yang baik
maupun yang buruk, tanda yang jelas dari keluarga dan bangsa, tanda yang jelas dari budi kemanusiaan.” It means, First, language is not only human beings can
think regularly but also can communicate what we are thinking to others, also
Universitas Sumatera Utara
language we can express our feelings and attitudes. The second is the language serves as a means of communication between individuals. Accordingly, how the
attitude and the way a person acts, how social life in society, and so on, mostly influenced by the prevailing language in the community. The words which are
contained in the sentence language reflects personality of a person, is correct and the originals are acceptable.
Kridalaksana 1993:21says, “Bahasa adalah sistem lambang bunyi yang arbitrer yang dipergunakan oleh para anggota suatu masyarakat untuk bekerja
sama, berinteraksi, dan mengidentifikasikan diri.” And next Abdul Chaer and Leonie Agustina 2004:11 says, “Hakikat bahasa antara lain bahwa bahasa itu
sebuah sistem lambang, berupa bunyi yang arbitrer, produktif, dinamis, beragam, dan manusiawi.” Based on the above meanings, we could conclude that language
is the sound symbol system is used by humans to communicate each other for the purpose of communicating.