menelaah

Menelaah is an Indonesian verb meaning to examine closely, to study, or to analyze in depth. It conveys a careful and critical scrutiny of a subject such as a text, data, a theory, or a policy. The action is typically formal and common in academic, journalistic, and analytical writing. As a transitive verb, it takes an object, for example, menelaah sebuah teks or menelaah data.

The noun telaah refers to the act or result of such examination. A related term is telaah pustaka, meaning a literature review in research. The passive form—ditelaah—means that something has been reviewed or examined by someone. The word originates in Indonesian morphology, with the prefix me- indicating an active verb and the noun telaah providing the core meaning of careful examination.

Usage and nuance: menelaah emphasizes depth and critical assessment rather than casual reading. It often implies weighing evidence, identifying strengths and limitations, and drawing reasoned conclusions. It is commonly used in academic criticism, data analysis, and policy evaluation. Synonyms or near-synonyms include menganalisis, mengkaji, meneliti, and mengulas, each with subtle differences in emphasis. In practice, menelaah is well-suited to contexts that require a structured, evaluative inquiry.

Examples: Peneliti menelaah data survei untuk menguji hipotesis. Guru besar menelaah artikel kajian pustaka sebelum menilai metodologi penelitian.