Saya jalan secara pelan-pelan di taman.

I walk slowly in the garden.

Breakdown of Saya jalan secara pelan-pelan di taman.

• saya: I
• di: in
• jalan: to walk
• taman: the garden
• secara pelan-pelan: slowly

Questions & Answers about Saya jalan secara pelan-pelan di taman.

Why is jalan used in the sentence instead of the full form berjalan?

In Indonesian, especially in informal conversation, it’s common to drop the ber- prefix on verbs. Although berjalan is the complete form meaning “to walk,” using jalan is widely accepted in everyday speech. Both forms convey the same action, but jalan gives the sentence a more casual tone.

What does the phrase secara pelan-pelan mean?

The phrase secara pelan-pelan translates to “in a slow manner.” Here, secara functions similarly to “in a manner” or “by means of,” while pelan-pelan is the reduplicated form of pelan (meaning slow). Together, they emphasize that the walking is done slowly and deliberately.

Why is the word pelan repeated as pelan-pelan?

Reduplication in Indonesian is often used to intensify the meaning of adjectives or adverbs. In this case, repeating pelan to form pelan-pelan adds a nuance of doing something in a gentle or gradual way. It implies not just a slow pace but a careful, measured manner of walking.

What is the function of di taman in the sentence?

The prepositional phrase di taman indicates the location where the action takes place. Di means “in” or “at,” and taman means “park.” This part of the sentence tells us that the walking happens within the park.

Is it acceptable to mix formal elements like secara with more informal usage like jalan?

Yes, mixing formal and informal elements is quite common in Indonesian. Although secara tends to appear in more formal contexts, its combination with the colloquial jalan is natural and widely understood among native speakers. This blend of registers often makes the language feel both precise and conversational.