Why do people misspell this?
This misspelling occurs due to the strong influence of English as a global business language. Many people assume the original form is more 'international' or formal, even though the standard Indonesian spelling has dropped the letter 't' at the end of the word.
Etymology & History
The word 'impor' is borrowed into Indonesian from the English 'import'. The original word roots back to the Latin 'importare', meaning to bring in (in- + portare). Following Indonesian loanword rules, double consonant endings or foreign suffixes are often simplified to match local phonotactics.
Cultural Context
The use of 'import' is frequently found in trade contexts, logistics labels, and economic discussions. This reflects the 'xenoglossy' phenomenon, where speakers feel more prestigious when using foreign terms despite the existence of official loanword equivalents.
Usage Context
“Pemerintah sedang meninjau kembali kebijakan impor beras agar tidak merugikan petani lokal.”
The government is reviewing the rice import policy to ensure it does not harm local farmers.