Diktum, Diksi

Pemilihan frasa kampanye seperti “Berpengalaman di BIDANG birokrasi” membuat saya mengernyitkan dahi. What the… ^#%^%@??!! Sejak kapan “birokrasi” adalah sebuah bidang (baca: lahan untuk digarap)? Tak pernahkah pejabat kita melihat bahwa “menjadi Gubernur” itu adalah “melayani rakyat”, bukan mempersulit langkah setiap rakyatnya. Toh birokrasi yang ada sekarang di sana tak mampu membendung lumpur ratusan hektar.

Atau jargon “Bersama Kita Bisa” mungkin bisa nyerempet slogan kampanye Barack Obama “Yes, We Can!”. Jika Barack menciptakannya karena ia pusing hidup dalam dunia rasis di sana, di sini pusing dengan sejublak partai dan kelompok.

Saat HaDe menang, sekarang banyak balon (bakal calon?) pemimpin daerah bergandengan tangan dan membentuk kata baru yang sedikit “maksa”. Andai Roy Suryo dan Dhani Ahmad bergandengan tangan, tentu itu cuma kerjaan iseng desainer grafis yang juga insomniak seperti saya.

Memilih jargon, slogan ataupun frasa-frasa kampanye adalah sama sulitnya dengan memenuhi janji-janji di dalamnya. Bagaimana tidak, pemilihan kata yang enak didengar kemudian melancarkan jalan menuju gedung sate atau istana negara… tidak mudah.

Buktinya saya masih tertukar-tukar mengucapkan diktum dan diksi.

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[dictum] Meriam-Webster:
1: a noteworthy statement: as a: a formal pronouncement of a principle, proposition, or opinion b: an observation intended or regarded as authoritative
2: a judge’s expression of opinion on a point other than the precise issue involved in determining a case

[diction] Meriam-Webster:
1: obsolete : verbal description
2: choice of words especially with regard to correctness, clearness, or effectiveness
3 a: vocal expression : enunciation b: pronunciation and enunciation of words in singing

[jargon] Meriam-Webster:
1 a: confused unintelligible language b: a strange, outlandish, or barbarous language or dialect c: a hybrid language or dialect simplified in vocabulary and grammar and used for communication between peoples of different speech
2: the technical terminology or characteristic idiom of a special activity or group
3: obscure and often pretentious language marked by circumlocutions and long words

[slogan] Meriam-Webster:
1 a: a war cry especially of a Scottish clan b: a word or phrase used to express a characteristic position or stand or a goal to be achieved
2: a brief attention-getting phrase used in advertising or promotion

[phrase] Meriam-Webster:
1: a characteristic manner or style of expression : diction
a: a brief expression; especially : catchphrase b: word
3: a short musical thought typically two to four measures long closing with a cadence
4: a word or group of words forming a syntactic constituent with a single grammatical function <an adverbial phrase>
5: a series of dance movements comprising a section of a pattern

[bureaucracy] Meriam-Webster:
1 a: a body of nonelective government officials b: an administrative policy-making group
2: government characterized by specialization of functions, adherence to fixed rules, and a hierarchy of authority
3: a system of administration marked by officialism, red tape, and proliferation

[people] Meriam-Webster:

7: the body of enfranchised citizens of a state