The Meaning of Words in the Building Structures Field: A Case
Study of Comparing Conceptual Meanings with Lexical Meanings
Linda Sari Wulandari
11
and Erlyn Rosalina
2
1
Civil Engineering, Politeknik Negeri Jakarta, Kampus Baru UI Depok, Indonesia
2
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
1
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
Copyright
c
2021 by SCITEPRESS Science and Technology Publications, Lda. All rights reser ved
37
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
38
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 ’tendonis 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
39
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
40
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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