Member of Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) Bonnie Triyana reminded that the definition of palm oil set by language institutions must be in line with the consensus of scientific institutions, when responding to the polemic over changes to the definition of the word "palm oil" in the Big Indonesian Dictionary (KBBI).
He emphasized that the KBBI is not just a language dictionary, but also a vital educational and scientific instrument. He believes that the national dictionary must reflect the collective intelligence of the nation.
"Without a scientific basis, the official language could lose its educational function and authority," Bonnie said in a written statement received in Jakarta on Monday.
He said that modern lexicographic approaches that prioritize frequency of use risk ignoring scientific accuracy, especially for terms originating from specific disciplines.
According to him, the inconsistency of the definitions in the KBBI with the scientific consensus can cause conceptual confusion and weaken the education and research process.
*When the definitions of scientific terms are not aligned with scientific knowledge, the risk of academic confusion and erosion of public trust becomes real,” he said.
Therefore, he said, the state must ensure strong coordination between language institutions and scientific institutions. He also encouraged several corrective measures to maintain the credibility of the KBBI as an academic reference.
These steps, he said, include actively involving experts from various disciplines in the dictionary-building process, as well as maintaining a balance between a descriptive language approach and the need for scientific accuracy. This is considered crucial to ensure the KBBI remains accurate, credible, and authoritative in the eyes of academics and the public.
