The Meaning of Words in the Building Structures Field: A Case

Study of Comparing Conceptual Meanings with Lexical Meanings

Linda Sari Wulandari

and Erlyn Rosalina

Civil Engineering, Politeknik Negeri Jakarta, Kampus Baru UI Depok, Indonesia

Business Administration Department, Politeknik Negeri Jakarta, Kampus Baru UI Depok, Indonesia

Keywords: Conceptual Meaning, Lexical Meaning, Language Varieties, Building Structure Field, Civil Engineering

Abstract: This research aims to identify by exposing differences in meaning in words/terms used in the field of civil

engineering, especially in building structures field, between existing meanings according to civil engineering

field and in general meaning words (based on KBBI). The method used in this study is a descriptive qualitative

method. This research was preceded by a literature study to obtain research data. The data source of research

is a list of words / terms in in SNI 032847 reinforced concrete, SNI 1729 steel, SNI 1726 earthquake, and SNI

1727 loading. Each word / term on SNI is equipped by its meaning based on the meaning in the civil

engineering field. The outcomes of this study, obtained several terms in the field of building structures that

have conceptual meaning and lexical meaning, such as base words tendon, diafragma, partisi, and suffixes

words like, tulangan, kebakaran, sambungan. The conceptual meaning of these terms has more specific

meaning towards the subject of building structure than its lexical meaning. Yet, both conceptual meaning and

lexical meaning have similarities to the concepts it is used for. Thus, it can be noted that the use of vocabulary

/term in a field has a special meaning according to the field, initially refers to a common concept first before

being interpreted in a more particular field.

1 INTRODUCTION

The language that continues to develop will continue

to live on. A living language is a dynamic language

(Afjalurrahmansyah, 2018). Dynamic means to

practice changes according to times development.

The evolution of today's times follows the

development of science as well as technology in all

areas of life. The language used today will always

adapt in line with the life development and human

needs as a speaker (Afjalurrahmansyah, 2018).

Indonesian language is able to adapt and

according to the needs of language speakers.

Indonesian language is dynamic. The vocabularies in

Indonesian language is always growing and

increasing. The vocabularies have the diferente

meaning

on each field. Use of vocabulary on certain

fields have different meaning lexically. However, the

conceptual meaning still refers to a similar concept.

The building

structure

field is a branch of civil

engineering expertise. That is the oldest field of civil

engineering. The things of building structure is

among others, such as, pembebanan ‘loading’, beton

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7834-8993

bertulang ‘reinforced

concrete’

, gempa ‘earthquake’,

and baja ‘steel’. All of it is arranged by Badan

Standarisasi National (BSN) ‘National

Standardization Agency’. BSN had made Indonesian

National Standard (Standar Nasional Indonesia

(SNI)) containing list of the terms and meaning based

on field of civil engineering.

Explained meanings on SNI is conceptual

meaning. Conceptual meaning on SNI is different

with lexical meaning on KBBI. Therefore,

formulation of the problem on this research: (1) How

is the difference between conceptual meaning and

lexical meaning (based on KBBI) of words on the

structures building field of civil engineering? (2)

What is conceptual meaning and lexical meaning

(based on KBBI) of the words on the structures

building field of civil engineering refers to same

concept? Then, the aims of this research are

identifying conceptual meaning and lexical meaning

of the same words on SNI.

Wulandari, L. and Rosalina, E.

The Meaning of Words in the Building Structures Field: A Case Study of Comparing Conceptual Meanings with Lexical Meanings.

DOI: 10.5220/0010510400370041

In Proceedings of the 9th Annual Southeast Asian International Seminar (ASAIS 2020), pages 37-41

ISBN: 978-989-758-518-0

 2021 by SCITEPRESS – Science and Technology Publications, Lda. All rights reser ved

2 LITERATURE REVIEW

Word was language unit having a meaning; or word

was row of alphabets between two spaces having a

meaning (Chaer, 1994). A word had a concept. Along

with development of science and technology, concept

on a word can refer to more meanings. Meaning has

connection between form and thing (what it refers to)

(Soedjito, 1988). As previously explained, a word has

meaning, is a relation between word and meaning also

connected with a concept it refers to that meaning.

Meaning on the word can be seen from point of view

or some criterias so that the meanings are different

with some type of meanings, such as lexical meaning

and grammatical meaning, denotative meaning and

connotative meaning, conceptual meaning and

assosiative meaning, idiom and proverb (Chaer,

2009). Focus of this research is conceptual meaning.

Conceptual meaning on this research refers to

meaning of the word on terms in Indonesian National

Standard (SNI) of building structure field.

Conceptual meaning is meaning refers to referent

(Chaer, 2009). Therefore, conceptual meaning is

meaning on the word having not connected with other

words. Conceptual meaning same as referential

meaning, lexical meaning, and denotative meaning.

As example, sawah word has meaning ‘field’.

Nevertheless, this research will explain conceptual

meaning on the same word, but can be interpreted as

conceptual meaning on civil engineering field and

general meaning of the word (based on lexical

meaning of KBBI).

3 METHODS

This research used qualitative descriptive method.

The result of this research will describe the data.

Qualitative method using in this research was

supported with the other of methods and techniques

for collecting and analyzing the data. The process of

collecting data was done using the literature review.

The data source of research is a list of words / terms

in in SNI 032847 reinforced concrete, SNI 1729 steel,

SNI 1726 earthquake, and SNI 1727 loading. Each

word/term on SNI is equipped by its meaning based

on the meaning in the civil engineering field.

Authors were scrutinizing and taking note for

collecting the data. The authors were scrutinizing all

words/ terms on SNI and then continues with taking

notes. The data using in this research are words

having conceptual meaning. Then, the authors were

analyzing the data. The data were analyzed with the

referential equivalent technique.

The

referential equivalent technique is using for

finding the rule step of the data analyzing with its

determinant tools outside and apart of the language

(langue) concerned (Sudaryanto, 1993). This method

was used for analyzing the meaning of words in SNI

concerned with the structures of building so that its

conceptual meaning can be known. After its meaning

had been known, the authors also checked its words

on KBBI so that lexical meaning of the word could be

known. After that, the authors compared the two

meanings, the conceptual and lexical meaning.

Finally, the authors conclude the result of comparing

these meanings.

4 ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Words/Terms in the Field of

Building Structures That Have

Conceptual Meaning and Lexical

Meaning

The words/terms used in the field of building structures

contain conceptual meanings. Conceptual meaning,

which is the meaning possessed by a word/term that is

independent of any context or association. Actually, the

conceptual meaning is the same as the lexical meaning.

However, in this study, the term lexical meaning is used

to refer to the meaning of words / terms that are in

accordance with meanings outside the field of building

structures. Therefore, the lexical meaning is more

precise on the results of the meaning based on the KBBI.

This study will

only describe the results of

comparing word meanings, namely the conceptual

meaning according to the meaning contained in SNI

with its lexical meaning in KBBI. The comparing

word meaning is carried out on the words tendon

‘tendon’, diafragma ‘diaphragm’, tulangan

‘reinforcement’, partisi ‘partition’, kebakaran

‘wildfire’, and sambungan ‘connection’. The six

words were chosen as research data because they

have different meanings between the meaning in SNI

and the meaning in KBBI.

The words, tendon ‘tendon’, diafragma

‘diaphragm’, tulangan ‘reinforcement’, partisi

‘partition’, kebakaran ‘wildfire’, and sambungan

‘connection’ already have a conceptual meaning in

the field of civil engineering, but in general these

words also have a lexical meaning (according to

KBBI) which is different from the conceptual

meaning in the field of building structures. The

ASAIS 2020 - Annual Southeast Asian International Seminar

difference between the conceptual meaning in the

field of building structure and the lexical meaning in

KBBI in these words is explained as follows.

Data 1: Tendon

The word tendon ’tendon’ is a part of noun category.

The tendon has a conceptual meaning and a lexical

meaning. Tendon is a concrete noun. According to

SNI 032847 regarding reinforced concrete, a tendon

is a steel element such as steel wire, cable rod, strand

wire or a bundle of these elements which is used to

provide a prestress force to the concrete. The lexical

meaning contained in KBBI (2016), tendons are hard

veins that connect muscles to bones.

The meaning of tendon which is taken from SNI

032847 is in the word wire. In KBBI (2016), wire is

a rope made of metal. The lexical meaning of the

word tendon in KBBI (2016) is contained in the word

veins. Vein means the part of the body that resembles

a thread or rope. So, the word tendon in the term of

building structure with tendon in the lexical meaning

has a conceptual meaning that is related through the

word rope.

Data 2: Diafragma

The word diafragma ‘diaphragm’ is a part of noun

category. The diaphragm is a concrete noun. In the

field of civil engineering

building structures through

SNI 1727 concerning loading, the word diaphragm

means roof, floor, membrane or bracing system

which functions to transmit lateral forces to vertical

retaining elements. The lexical meaning taken from

KBBI (2016), diaphragm is a noun which means a

partition between the chest cavity and the abdominal

cavity (on the body).

The meaning of the word diaphragm contained in

SNI 1727 concerning loading, is found in the word

membrane. A membrane is

thin skin, or thin sheet of

material that is a separator. The lexical meaning of the

word diaphragm in KBBI (2016) is contained in the

word bulkhead. A partition is something like a wall,

blinds, etc. to limit or separate the space (into

checkers). When the meaning is examined more

deeply, the word diaphragm has a conceptual

meaning that is related through the same root word,

namely separation in the word divider and separating

in the word membrane. So, the word diaphragm has a

conceptual meaning through the words, bulkhead and

membrane.

Data 3: Tulangan

The word tulangan ‘reinforcement’ is a concrete noun

in the structure of a building. According to SNI

032847 regarding reinforced concrete, reinforcement

means steel rods in plain form or in the form of

threads or in the form of pipes which function to

withstand the tensile forces on the components of a

concrete structure, excluding prestressed tendons,

unless specifically included. The lexical meaning in

KBBI (2016), reinforcement has the root word bone

which means skeleton or part of the human or animal

body.

From SNI 032847, the meaning of the word

reinforcement is in the word stem. Trunk means

bicycle frame except wheels. The word stem means

frame. In the lexical meaning, the word

reinforcement, which has the root word bone, means

frame. Thus, the word reinforcement in the term of

building

structure with a lexical meaning has a

conceptual meaning that is related through the word

framework.

Data 4: Partisi

The word partisi ‘partition’ is a part of noun category.

Partition is a concrete noun. According to SNI 1726

regarding earthquakes, partition means a non-

structural interior wall that stretches horizontally and

vertically from one pedestal to another. The lexical

meaning in

KBBI (2016), partition has a dividing

wall; bulkhead.

According to

SNI 1726, the meaning of the word

partition is in the word wall. In the lexical meaning,

the word partition means the word wall. So, the word

partition in the term of a building structure with a

lexical meaning has a conceptual meaning related to

the word wall.

Data 5: Kebakaran

The word kebakaran ‘wildfire’ has the basic form of

burn from the verb category, which means to scorch

(ignite/destroy) with fire (KBBI). Fire gets into a

concrete noun. According to SNI 1729 regarding

steel, fire is combustion which is destructive in

nature, as indicated by one or all of the following:

light, flames, heat or smoke. The lexical meaning of

the word concrete contained in KBBI (2016), fire is

fire coverage (about burning houses and so on);

danger of fire.

The meaning of the word fire which is taken from

SNI 1729 is found in the basic word burn through the

words burning and fire. The lexical meaning of the

word fire in the KBBI is found in the root word burn

The Meaning of Words in the Building Structures Field: A Case Study of Comparing Conceptual Meanings with Lexical Meanings

from the words fire and burning and fire. So, the word

fire in the term of the building structure with fire in

the lexical meaning has a conceptual meaning related

to the word burning with wildfire and burned and the

word fire.

Data 6: Sambungan

The word sambungan ‘connection’ is a part of noun

category. Connection is a concrete noun. In the field

of civil engineering building structures through SNI

1729 on steel, the word connection has a meaning

between two structural elements which are joined at

their ends to form a single, longer element.

The lexical

meaning taken from KBBI (2016),

connection is a noun which means additional to

elongate. The meaning of the connection contained in

SNI 1729 regarding steel is in the long word. The

lexical

meaning of the connection in KBBI is found in

the verb to elongate. The word lengthen has a long

root. So, the word connection has conceptual

meaning through long and elongate words.

4.2 The Same Concept Result of

Comparing between Conceptual

Meanings and Lexical Meanings

Based on the discussion of the six data above, namely

the words tendon ‘tendon’, diafragma ‘diaphragm’,

tulangan ‘reinforcement’, partisi ‘partition’,

kebakaran ‘wildfire’, and sambungan ‘connection’, it

can be seen that the

conceptual meaning of each term

is based on the meaning in the field of building

structure refers to the same concept as word meaning

based on lexical meaning in KBBI.

The word tendon ‘tendon’ in the field of building

structure refers to the concept of wire, whereas in

KBBI it refers to the concept of veins, although wire

and vein are two different things, wire and vein still

have the same function, namely to strengthen the

structure. Furthermore, there is also the word

diafragma ‘diaphragm’, the word diaphragm in the

field of building structure refers to the word

membrane, while in KBBI it refers to the word

barrier, between membrane and bulkhead also has a

relationship in meaning, namely this membrane

functions as a barrier. Then, there is the word partisi

‘partition’, the word partition in the field of building

structure referring to the concept of a wall. The

concept of this wall is referred to by the conceptual

and lexical meaning of the word partition.

The word tulangan ‘reinforcement’ in the field of

building structure refers to the concept of rods, while in

KBBI it refers to the concept of a frame. Both the trunk

and the frame, in fact, both have similar functions,

namely they are both used as supports. Then, the word

kebakaran ‘wildfire’ in the field of building structure

refers to the concept of damage due to fire, this concept

is used both in the field of structure and in the lexical

meaning in KBBI.

Likewise, with the word sambungan ‘connection’,

the word connection in the field of building structure

refers to the

concept of uniting two elements. This

concept is also the same as the lexical meaning in

KBBI, namely the concept of uniting, adding, or

making length.

Based on the explanation above, it can be seen that

the words used in the field of building structures-civil

engineering, even though the conceptual meaning

corresponds to the field show differences, after

further analysis it turns out that the meaning of the

words contained therein refers to the same concept as

lexical meaning based on KBBI. So, based on the

results of this analysis it can be seen that the use of

terms/words in the field of building structures, in

particular, words/terms tendon, diaphragm,

reinforcement, partition, wildfire, and connection, are

words that have conceptual meanings based on their

fields with still refers to the same concept with its

lexical meaning (meaning that can be understood by

public). It's just that, the conceptual meaning in

accordance with the field makes it clearer the

meaning of the words contained in each of the terms

in accordance with their function in the field of civil

engineering, in particular, regarding building

structures.

5 CONCLUSION

Words or terms found in the field of civil-engineering

structures that contain conceptual meanings in this

study include basic words, such as tendon ‘tendon’,

diafragma ‘diaphragm’, tulangan ‘reinforcement’,

partisi ‘partition’, kebakaran ‘wildfire’, and

sambungan ‘connection’. These terms contain

conceptual meanings based on the field of civil

engineering building structures as well as lexical

meanings based on KBBI. Lexical meanings based on

KBBI in these terms are more common, while

conceptual meanings based on the meaning according

to the subject of building structure are more specific

to the field of building structure. Even so, the concept

referred to in conceptual meaning based on the field

of structure of the building refers to the same concepts

as the meaning contained in the lexical meaning

based on KBBI, only the concept of conceptual

meaning is more specific towards the field of building

ASAIS 2020 - Annual Southeast Asian International Seminar

structure. Thus, it can be concluded that the use of

words or terms in a field held special meaning

according to the field, initially refers to a common

concept before being interpreted into a more

particular field.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This research received a grant from PNBP internal

research funding, UP2M Politeknik Negeri Jakarta,

on a research scheme for penelitian dosen pemula

(novice lecturers).

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The Meaning of Words in the Building Structures Field: A Case Study of Comparing Conceptual Meanings with Lexical Meanings