sentilan

Sentilan is a term in the Indonesian language that refers to a brief, pointed remark or retort delivered in response to a claim, behavior, or pretension. It functions as a light but sharp jab—pithy and concise, yet stronger than a simple aside. The aim of a sentilan is often to puncture pretension, highlight inconsistency, or inject humor into a dialogue without resorting to a full argument or overt confrontation.

Origin and usage: The exact origin of the word is not clearly defined, but sentilan is widely used across Indonesian-speaking contexts. It derives from the notion of a small, deliberate nudge or poke, and it is employed as a rhetorical device in everyday conversation, journalism, political commentary, and literary writing as a means to convey critique succinctly.

Form and tone: A sentilan is typically delivered in a single sentence or a brief couple of lines. It relies on wit, irony, understatement, or playful language to land a critique with economy and impact. Because of its brevity, a sentilan can be easily missed or, conversely, become a memorable line that resonates with readers or listeners.

Variations and reception: Sentilan can range from affectionate teasing to sharper social critique, depending on context, tone, and audience. In media and public discourse, it is often used to express skepticism or to dismantle a claim with a crisp, quotable remark, without escalating into a full argument.

See also: satire, insult, retort, irony, barb.