peran

Peran is a term used in Indonesian and Malay to denote the role, part, or function that someone or something plays within a system, relationship, or narrative. It describes what is expected to be done, how a person or object contributes, or how a process unfolds within a larger context. In everyday language, peran can refer to social positions (such as one’s role in the family), occupational duties, or the function of objects and systems.

The common modern spelling is peran; the variant peranan is also widespread and often considered more formal or traditional. Both forms are understood in Indonesian and Malay, and usage varies by region, style, and register.

In social and cultural contexts, peran describes the duties, behaviors, and expectations attached to a position, such as gender roles or community roles. In organizations, the concept is used in phrases like deskripsi peran dan tanggung jawab (roles and responsibilities descriptions) to define what each position entails. In education and teamwork, clarifying peran helps coordination and accountability.

In storytelling and media, peran refers to a character’s function within a plot: peran utama (lead role), peran pendukung (supporting role), peran antagonis (antagonist). Actors memerankan (portray) a character, and scripts allocate peran to cast members.

The notion also appears in linguistics to describe how participants participate in events, often translated as semantic roles. Across cultures, peran can evolve with social change, reflecting shifts in family structure, work, and identity.