The term is a noun phrase originating from the Indonesian language. It functions as a proper noun that directly translates to "the English language." Grammatically, "bahasa" serves as the head noun, meaning "language," and "Inggris" acts as the modifier, specifying "English."
This phrase exemplifies the common grammatical structure in Indonesian for naming languages, where the general noun for "language" precedes the specific national or ethnic identifier. This noun-modifier order (head-final syntax in this context) is a characteristic feature of many Malayo-Polynesian languages and contrasts with the modifier-noun order found in English ("English language"). The modifier "Inggris" is a loanword, adapted from the Dutch word "Engels," reflecting historical colonial linguistic influence in the region.
In practical application, this noun phrase is the standard and formal term used in all contexts within Indonesiaincluding academia, government, and daily communicationto refer to the English language. Its analysis is significant in fields like comparative linguistics and sociolinguistics, as it demonstrates how a language incorporates and categorizes foreign linguistic concepts, and it serves as a key lexical item for anyone involved in translation, interpretation, or language education related to Indonesian speakers.
