Prefix Debate: Why Do We Often Add the Letter 'R' to the Word Telantar?

This spelling error occurs due to a hypercorrective tendency and a false analogy with the 'ter-' prefix. Since the majority of passive verbs or state-of-being words in Indonesian use the 'ter-' prefix (such as terbawa, terbuang), speakers automatically insert the letter 'r' without realizing the specific elision rules for certain words.

The word 'telantar' originates from the root word 'lantar' combined with the prefix 'te-'. Morphologically, the prefix 'te-' is a variant of the 'ter-' prefix that undergoes elision or dissimilation because the root word contains a liquid consonant. Therefore, the standard form in the Indonesian language system is 'telantar', not 'terlantar'.

The use of 'terlantar' is deeply rooted in daily conversation, media reporting, and even popular literature. This creates a collective perception that the variant is correct, while the standard form 'telantar' is often perceived as sounding foreign or even incorrect by the general public.