Rhetorical parallelism

Level 6

Kesejajaran (parallelism) gives related items a balanced grammatical form. A list of actions may use meN- verbs throughout, but matching roles and meanings matters more than repeating a particular meN- prefix.

How It Works

Parallelism, known as kesejajaran, is an important principle of clear formal writing (such as academic papers, journalism, and official letters) in discussions of Kalimat Efektif (Effective Sentences). At this level, you must become proficient in key principles to ensure structural balance:

1. Kesejajaran Bentuk (Form Parallelism): This requires matching grammatical structures.

  • Morphological: When listing comparable actions by one subject, matching verb patterns can make the list clearer. For example, use meN- for all verbs (menulis, membaca, menghitung - writing, reading, calculating) to keep the subject in the same role. Identical prefixes are not required in every list: membaca dan berdiskusi (reading and discussing) coordinates two activities with different prefixes.
  • Syntactic: For a balanced list, keep the same grammatical function and, where appropriate, the same phrase type. A classic learner trap is mixing verbs and nouns in a list of tasks (e.g., mixing a noun like pembelian - purchasing - with a verb like membuat - to make). Instead, use peN-...-an for all items (pembelian dan pembuatan - purchasing and making).
  • Clause-Level: Distinguish parallel style from subject reference. If the second clause omits its subject, check that the understood subject still has the intended role. For example, Budi menulis buku itu dan diterbitkan oleh Gramedia (Budi wrote the book and was published by Gramedia) fails to identify the book as the subject of the second clause. One solution is parallel voice: Buku itu ditulis oleh Budi dan diterbitkan oleh Gramedia (The book was written by Budi and published by Gramedia) or Budi menulis buku itu dan Gramedia menerbitkannya (Budi wrote the book and Gramedia published it). Different voices are also grammatical with an explicit subject: Budi menulis buku itu dan buku itu diterbitkan oleh Gramedia (Budi wrote the book and the book was published by Gramedia).
  • Correlative: When using paired conjunctions like baik... maupun... (both... and...) or tidak hanya... tetapi juga... (not only... but also...), give the elements following each part matching grammatical functions and balanced forms. Conventional pairings are useful models: tidak hanya ... tetapi juga ... and bukan hanya ... melainkan juga .... Standard reference grammar also records variation in additive pairings; choosing another pairing is not by itself a failure of parallelism.
  • Punctuation (EYD/PUEBI): In a parallel list of three or more items, a comma is mandatory before the final conjunction (dan - and - or atau - or).

2. Kesejajaran Makna (Semantic Parallelism): This focuses on logical coherence and clear scope. In Polisi tidak memperhatikan dan mengantisipasi ancaman tersebut, the intended scope of tidak over the coordinated actions may be unclear. To state explicitly that neither action occurred, repeat the negator: Polisi tidak memperhatikan dan tidak mengantisipasi ancaman tersebut (The police did not pay attention to and did not anticipate the threat). If one action is positive and the other negative, express that contrast explicitly rather than assuming every coordinated item has the same polarity.

Beyond the clarity principles of Kalimat Efektif, there is also Rhetorical Parallelism (Majas Paralelisme). This is a stylistic figure of speech used in political oratory and advanced prose, where speakers use matched phrase lengths or repeating starting words to build emotional impact and rhythmic beauty.

Examples (5)

  1. Kegiatan penelitian ini meliputi pengumpulan data, pengolahan informasi, dan penyusunan laporan.

    This research activity includes the collection of data, the processing of information, and the drafting of the report.

    Word by Word: Activity research this include collection data, processing information, and drafting report.

    Note the consistent use of the peN-...-an circumfix for all three items in the list, creating a formal and balanced structure. Also observe the mandatory comma before 'dan' in a list of three items.

  2. Tujuan kita merdeka adalah untuk merdeka dari kemiskinan, merdeka dari kelaparan, dan merdeka dari penderitaan.

    Our goal in independence is to be free from poverty, free from hunger, and free from suffering.

    Word by Word: Goal we independent is for independent from poverty, independent from hunger, and independent from suffering.

    This is an example of rhetorical parallelism (anaphora), repeating 'merdeka dari' to emphasize the central theme of the speech.

  3. Kakak menolong anak itu lalu memapahnya ke pinggir jalan.

    The older sibling helped the child and then led them to the side of the road.

    Word by Word: Older-sibling help child that then lead-him to side road.

    Both verbs use the meN- prefix (menolong and memapah). Both predicates share Kakak as their understood subject. Switching to passive dipapahnya without naming the child as the new subject would obscure who is being led.

  4. Hutan berfungsi sebagai penyerap air, penghasil oksigen, dan pelindung satwa.

    The forest functions as a water absorber, an oxygen producer, and a wildlife protector.

    Word by Word: Forest function as absorber water, producer oxygen, and protector wildlife.

    The sentence maintains parallelism by using peN- agent/tool nouns for all three functions.

  5. Masalah itu harus diselesaikan bukan dengan kekerasan, melainkan dengan musyawarah.

    That problem must be resolved not with violence, but rather through deliberation.

    Word by Word: Problem that must be-resolved not with violence, but-rather with deliberation.

    This demonstrates parallelism within a contrastive structure, where both parts are introduced by the preposition dengan.

Common Mistakes

  • Changing voice while leaving the second subject unclear.

    Budi menulis buku itu dan diterbitkan oleh Gramedia.
    Budi menulis buku itu dan buku itu diterbitkan oleh Gramedia.

    The second clause needs buku itu as its subject: the book, not Budi, was published. Alternatively, use two passive clauses: Buku itu ditulis oleh Budi dan diterbitkan oleh Gramedia. Different voices with explicit subjects are grammatical; parallel voice is a choice that can improve continuity.

  • Choosing a nominalizer for its appearance rather than its meaning.

    Kawasan pemukiman penduduk itu luas.
    Kawasan permukiman penduduk itu luas.

    For a residential area, use permukiman; pemukiman refers to the process of settling people. Both are nouns, so parallelism alone cannot decide between them. Coordinated nouns may have different affixes when their meanings and functions fit the intended list.

  • Mixing a verb with a noun in a list of hobbies or activities.

    Hobi saya adalah membaca, menulis, dan sepak bola.
    Hobi saya adalah membaca, menulis, dan bermain sepak bola.

    For a more balanced formal list of activities, use verb phrases throughout. Sepak bola names the sport, while membaca and menulis name activities. Adding bermain (to play) makes the final item match the activity pattern; the original is understandable but less parallel.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Rhetorical parallelismLevel 6

Learn This First

Rhetorical parallelism in Indonesian involves coordinating multiple clauses that share the same grammatical structure, particularly matching verbal morphology (active meN- or passive di-) and syntactic roles. To use this well, a learner must be proficient in the primary verbal prefixes and basic coordination strategies used to link complex ideas in formal speeches and essays.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.