Language Use of Scientific Works at Higher Education in Java

Kundharu Saddhono, Purwadi, Yusuf Muflikh Raharjo

Universitas Sebelas Maret Surakarta, Indonesia

Keywords: Language Use, Scientific Works, Higher Education, Java Island

Abstract: The use of language in scientific work is a matter that has been agreed the rule with reference to the

linguistic rules and regulations. Speak error in scientific work of students (thesis and dissertation) remains a

recurring error occurred, with not in accordance with the general rules of spelling Indonesian handbook,

according Permendikbud number 50 in 2015. This study aimed to describe the language errors contained in

scientific papers students at universities in Java, especially at the level of spelling, word choice, sentence

structure and paragraph structure. In addition, this study also describes the causes of the fault speaking in

scientific work that is often repeated. The method used in this research is descriptive qualitative content

analysis approach. The result of this research is the discovery of a major fault in the level of spelling and

sentence structure. Structures that are not consistent or inconsistent is also a common mistake in scientific

work of students in Java. The factors that cause the occurrence of error is less their language intensive

guidance regarding the rules of language between lecturers and students and the lack of understanding in the

use of Indonesian rule, as a general guideline Indonesian spelling.

1 INTRODUCTION

Indonesian language has a role as a media to convey

human thought. Indonesian language is also a tool in

forums or a scientific nuanced. This is in accordance

with Regulation number 24 2009; 35; 1 stating that

the Indonesian language must be used in the writing

of scientific papers and scientific publications in

Indonesia. Therefore, there is a need for special

attention that the use of the Indonesian language

must be in accordance.

Scientific work is a form of results for the

academic community as contribution to society that

is responsible in terms of science. Scientific work is

also the final work for students who want to

complete their studies at a certain level. In

Indonesia, there are four types of final tasks, namely

Final Task for Diploma Program, Thesis for

Undergraduate Program (S1), Thesis for

Postgraduate Program (S2), and Dissertation for

Doctorate Program (S3). All of these scientific

works are required to be compiled in Indonesian in

accordance with the correct rules. As a final project,

a students’ scientific works not only describe the

process of pouring ideas or thought in writing, but

also the entire event of the research process

conducted by observing scientific principles, namely

rational, factual, systematic, and objective in the

procedure of proof as well concluding.

Universitas Sebelas Maret as one of the

universities in Java requires every student of

undergraduate level to make thesis writing at the end

of their study period. As evidence to seeing the

importance of thesis writing activity, Universitas

Sebelas Maret gives six credits for the study. Thus,

the thesis writing is expected to be completed utterly

and as best as possible. In terms of format, the

structure of writing should be in accordance with the

rules that have been set in the handbook of thesis

writing in each faculty. From language aspect, as a

scientific paper thesis should be written using

language format that meets the scientific standards

and must comply with the standard of Indonesian

rules. Rohmadi et al. argued that standard language

is a variety of languages used in official

circumstance, for instance is in writing scientific

papers and research reports (Rohmadi, Saddhono,

Wardani, et al, 2008)

Scientific work written by someone must be

justified. This implies that the scientific work must

use a specialized scientific language in accordance

with the field, so that what is discussed in more

detail and depth. According to Suriasumantri the

characteristics of scientific language as a medium of

scientific work include: (1) reproductive, (2)

284

Saddhono, K., Purwadi, . and Raharjo, Y.

Language Use of Scientiﬁc Works at Higher Education in Java.

DOI: 10.5220/0009019900002297

In Proceedings of the Borneo International Conference on Education and Social Sciences (BICESS 2018), pages 284-288

ISBN: 978-989-758-470-1

unambiguous, (3) not emotive, (4) the use of

standard language in spelling, words, sentences, and

paragraph, (5) the use of the scientific term, (6) is

denotative, (7) rational, (8) there is intercapal

cohesion, (9) straightforward or direct to the target,

and (10) effective use of sentences (Suriasumantri,

2007). But the problem, in thesis writing activities

conducted by students it was found that there were

many language errors. The mistakes made are

violations of language rules that include: word

formation, proper selection of words, grammatical

composition of sentences, paragraph formation,

reasoning arrangements, and an improved

application of Indonesian spelling (Listiyorini,

2005). This condition of course can lead to the low

quality of scientific writing (especially theses)

produced. In addition, these mistakes if left

unchecked can certainly cause communication

disruption between the writer and the reader.

The existence of language errors in the students’

thesis can be caused by the influence of attitudes and

awareness of themselves, the influence of mother

tongue, and the influence of the environment. Public

opinion states that mistakes may come from student

carelessness, lack of knowledge, and interference.

As stated by Setyawati that there are three possible

causes of language errors (Setyawati, 2010). The

three possibilities are: (1) influenced by first

acquired language, (2) the lack of understanding of l

language use, (3) imperfect language teaching.

Coming from the problem, there is one action

that can be applied related to language errors in the

students’ scientific works. That is language errors

analysis. Language error analysis is a procedure

used by researchers and language teachers, which

includes collecting error samples, identifying errors

in the sample, explaining the error, classifying the

error, and evaluating the level of language error

(Guntur & Tarigan, 2011). Through language errors

analysis, it shows the use of an appropriate and

correct Indonesian language in accordance with the

determinants of communication and grammatical

rules. If its use is beyond the determinants of

communication and grammatical rules it can result

in irregularities and is considered to contain

language errors.

This language error analysis activity is part of

work that is integrated with language learning

(Saddhono & St. Y Slamet, 2014). Language errors

should not be seen as an inability of students in

language. Language errors in the process of

acquisition and learning are processes that influence

students in learning the language. The results of the

error analysis activities can contribute to make

improvements to the teaching of language and then

help students to correct previous mistakes. In

addition, the existence of language error analysis is

expected to have a positive impact that can be a

good example of appropriate use of Indonesian

language, especially in thesis and in general writing

lessons. So that the misuse of the Indonesian

language in students’ thesis can be minimized and

even eliminated.

2 RESEARCH METHOD

This research was conducted at Universitas Sebelas

Maret Surakarta. This research used descriptive

qualitative approach. Moleong quoted the opinion of

Bogdam and Taylor stating that qualitative method

is research procedures that produce descriptive data

in the form of written or oral from object and

observed behavior. The type of research used is case

study (Moleong, 2010).

The main data in this research were students'

essay and transcript of interview result. Data

analysis techniques used in the research is

interactive model analysis. This analysis involves

the following. (1) Data Collection; the main data in

this study was thesis of UNS students and interviews

with informants both lecturers and students. This

was done by recording all forms of errors that exist

in the students’ thesis and interviews with

informants. (2) Data Reduction; Data reduction is

the process of selecting, focusing attention on

simplifying, abstracting, and transforming raw data

that arises from written records in the field (Miles &

Huberman, 1994). (3) Data Presentation; Data

presentation is an important part of data analysis.

According to Sutopo data presentation is a series of

information organization, description in the form of

a complete narration that allows researchers to draw

conclusions (Sutopo, 2006). Through the data

presentation, the collected data is grouped into

sections with the type of problem so that it is easy to

be seen and understood so it is easy to be analyzed.

(4) Drawing conclusion; Based on the results of the

analysis of errors in the use of Indonesian language

thesis and interviews with some informants both

lecturers and students, then drawn conclusions.

Language Use of Scientiﬁc Works at Higher Education in Java

285

3 DISCUSSION

3.1 Faculty of Economy and Business

Thesis

Based on the analysis that had been done, the form

of language errors that found in the Faculty of

Economy and business thesis UNS as follows. First,

spelling mistakes include: misuse of capital letters,

use of italics, use of word combinations, use of

prepositions, the use of number symbols, the use of

periods, and the use of commas. Second, errors in

the field of diction, including: word misconduct and

word accuracy. Third, the error in sentence level,

including the sentence coherence. In addition to the

errors mentioned above, the thesis that became the

source of research also had other errors. Other errors

included: inconsistent use of letters / words and

repeated explanations in paragraphs. For example

the use of inconsistent letters / words, namely the

writing of Regional Revenue (Pendapatan Asli

Daerah) written by using acronyms (PAD) and was

not written in acronyms. Capital letter error (18),

standard word error (14), comma error (7),

preposition error (6), number symbol error (4), colon

error (4), incorrect word error (4), misconduct

writing (3), period error (1). Based on the analysis

that had been done, there were several factors that

caused the error of language in the thesis of

Economic Development Study Program of Faculty

of Economy and Business.

3.2 Faculty of Law Thesis

After analyzing language errors in thesis of Faculty

of Law UNS it was found 21 types of language

errors, especially in writing, 3 of them were found in

huge numbers, namely the initial capital letter error

were 11, 18 errors of prepositions, and standard

words as 18 errors. From such analysis it was

concluded that the author had not fully understood

the spelling and grammar that existed so that errors

appeared as above. In addition to absence factors

and lack of knowledge about spelling and grammar,

it was found another factor that is the accuracy so

that errors such as "slip of the pen" or lapses

occurred. Lapses is a mistake in writing due to

accidental or omission in writing a word. In addition

there is inconsistent words, sometimes by using

capital letters as a prefix sometimes not. Many of the

phrases were ambiguous and there was no variation

and effected to monotonous form and there were

some sentences that were repeated in the next

paragraphs.

3.3 Faculty of Social and Political

Sciences Thesis

The typical language used by FISIP students is in the

form of long and circling elaborations. This is very

tiring for the reader. Plus the students often make

mistakes related to punctuation, spelling, and other

key things in scientific writing. Sentences tended to

long. In that long sentence there were many

redundant and inappropriate words. As a result, the

sentences were not unified and ambiguous. In a word

level, the students of this faculty had made a lot of

language errors, especially in terms of: (1) -space

(use of capital letters, italics, standard vs. non-

standard words, inappropriate borrowed words etc.

and (2) punctuation (point, comma, conjunction,

stirrup, etc. which were misplaced). At the level of

sentence many also encountered errors (such as:

ineffective sentences, illogical sentences, and

incoherent sentences). As for paragraph levels, errors

occurred was numbers of main idea in one paragraph

so it was difficult for readers to understand.

3.4 Faculty of Medical Thesis

The style of thesis writing in faculty of medical

students is as follows. First, spelling errors included:

misuse of capital letters, use of italics, use of

derivative words, combined use of words, use of

compound words, use of prepositions, use of number

symbols, use of periods, and use of commas.

Second, errors in diction level, include: word error.

Factors considered to encourage errors in both

spelling and term or grammar. These factors can be

either external factors or internal factors from a

writer. Language rules mastery was still inadequate.

Authors who had not mastered appropriate

Indonesian language rules in terms of spelling,

diction, sentence, or paragraph. The influence of

foreign languages. Due to foreign language affected

for example in terms of words choice or diction.

Especially the use of popular words in the field of

medicine or terms from Latin. Lack of writing time.

When it comes to writing skills as a process it is

clear that there are three stages to be completed

during the writing process, those are pre-writing,

writing, revising. In fact, during revision phase, a

review stage related to the quality of writing

(including grammar) that should be done by

students, was rarely done because of lack of time.

3.5 Faculty of Teaching and Education

Thesis

Language skills are important aspect that must be

possessed by a person. Because language skills can

BICESS 2018 - Borneo International Conference On Education And Social

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support performance, express feelings, ideas, and

means of exchanging information. In the academic

field, language skills are used in scientific writing.

One form of scientific work contained in the level of

Higher Education is a thesis. In thesis writing

requires a variety of considerations and references

linguistic rules. However, the thesis still encounters

language errors. Based on the analysis of language

errors contained in this thesis, it can be concluded

that there are still some errors, namely punctuation,

pause of each word, italics in foreign words,

inconsistent use of words, and inappropriate

selection of diction.

3.6 Faculty of Mathematics and

Natural Sciences Thesis

This MIPA thesis analysis is only one of the many

theses that had been written by undergraduate

students, especially in Faculty of Mathematics and

Natural Sciences. From the analysis, it can be

concluded as following; (1) MIPA's thesis took

many foreign terms; (2) There were still numbers

writing errors, such as: the use of capital letters, the

use of italics, derivative words writing, words

combination writing, prepositions, number symbols,

full stop, commas, non-standard words, use of

redundant words, improper use of words, illogical

sentences, incoherence phrases, and the writing of a

bibliography. There needs to be a follow-up of the

mistakes found in Faculty of Mathematics and

Natural Sciences theses. The follow-up not only

improved the structure and language that was wrong,

but also expected to change the paradigm of students

not to override the role of language in delivering the

results of the research they got.

3.7 Faculty of Agricultural Thesis

From the research and data collected, it can be

concluded that this thesis had many errors. Most

errors were the prefix of di- and ke-. Such mistakes

might occur because the author did not understand

the rules of language. Besides that, the error in

placing a space needs to be corrected. Because the

lack of research was fatal enough to cause a lack of

legibility. From the above conclusions, the editing

team suggested that Indonesian language courses

should be maximized in every faculty. Both students

and supervisors must understand and master

linguistic rules. This aims to improve the quality of

UNS students' thesis in terms of scientific writing

rules

3.8 Faculty of Literature and Arts

Thesis

From the results of the analysis of Indonesian errors

in the thesis of Faculty of Literature and Arts, there

were still errors found. From the findings of the

Indonesian language errors, the researchers thought

that these mistakes had become normal. But this

thesis was adequate because the language errors

found were in small numbers. Mistakes were: the

use of capital letters at the beginning of the sentence

(1), the use of capital letters in the names of people

(2), the use of capital letters in the names of

institutions and official documents (2), the use of

capital letters (6), the use of prepositions (4), the use

of commas (9), the use of non-standard words (6),

the use of redundant words (1), inappropriate use of

words (10), sentences which did not meet the

element of unity of ideas (3), and sentences that are

not unified (4). From several types of errors it can

already be seen which error the most and little. From

the mistake of the language of the writer of the

thesis, it happened because several factors, namely:

(1) in writing, the author lacked understanding of the

guidelines in the writing of the thesis, (2) the author

was not mastery in and not guided by Indonesian

Language Dictionary or Enhanced Letter of

Indonesian

3.9 Faculty of Engineering Thesis

Mistakes most found in the final assignment of

Architecture Engineering students were on the use of

capital letters in the beginning of the sentence. There

were many letters at the beginning of a sentence

written in lowercase. The foreign terms not in italics

were also many. Overall, the errors found in the

Architectural Engineering Students Final

Assignment were low. From many aspects of

language errors, in this Final Project of Architecture

Engineering students there were 9 aspects of error.

Other aspect errors were not too many. It can be

concluded that the students of Architecture

Engineering knew a lot about the aspects of Final

Assignment.

4 CONCLUSIONS

Based on research findings and data analysis results

on Indonesian error analysis in the thesis of UNS

students in 2014 conclusions drawn as follow. (1)

The form of language errors found in the thesis of

the Universitas Sebelas Maret students in the form

of spelling errors, diction errors, sentence errors, and

paragraph errors. (2) The spread of language errors

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287

found in the thesis of Universitas Sebelas Maret

students is as follows. Speech errors in the spelling

consisted of: misuse of capital letters; italics;

derivative words; use of word combinations; use of

compound words; use of the preposition; use of

number symbols; use of periods; and the use of

commas. Language errors in the field of diction

consist of: wrong words; common word; redundant

word; and word accuracy. Language error in the

sentence level consisted of: unity of ideas; sentence

logic; and cohesiveness. Language error in the

paragraph field. (3) Mistakes that often occurred in

the thesis of Universitas Sebelas Maret were caused

by several factors, for instance: the inadequate

mastery of Indonesian language, the lack of attention

to Indonesian grammar, the lack of reference to

Indonesian grammar books, the limited time, first

language and foreign language interference, and

thesis supervisors who have

not provided

maximum guidance.

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