Indonesian Language

Bahasa Indonesia A quick look at the language Margaret Shugart Spring 2008

Bahasa is the Indonesian word for “language”! It applies to all languages: Bahasa Inggris- English language Bahasa Cina- Chinese language Bahasa Belanda- Dutch language

Beginning “Bahasa Indonesia”!   Learning the basics of spoken, informal Indonesian may be easier than many other languages   No conjugation of verbs for pronouns, genders, numbers or tenses   No tonal requirements   All letters are pronounced   He and she are the same word

For Example!   Makan means “to eat”   Saya makan- I am eating   Saya makan kemarin- I ate yesterday   Dia makan besok- She is eating tomorrow   Dia akan makan besok- He will eat tomorrow

As you learn more Indonesian…! You find that it is

Expression is shown through Word order Suffixes Prefixes

Word Order! Much of the meaning in Indonesia is expressed with emphasis. This is particularly clear in word order.

Kita pergi ke pasar, kan? We are going to the market, right?

Kan, kita pergi ke pasar.

You know we are going to the market!

Jam berapa?

What time is it?

Berapa jam?

How many hours?

Suffixes •  Suffixes are added to word order to create different meanings •  They modify objects •  Two examples:

- i (eee)

- kan (kaun)

(Usually these words take a form of meng- as a prefix, but for simplicity sake, we will leave it off)

i! Refers to the recipient of an action: •  Anda duduk •  You are sitting •  Anda menduduki kursi •  You are sitting on a chair •  The chair receives the action of you sitting

  Mereka datang   They came   Mereka mendatangi rumahnya   They came to his house  The house receives the action of them coming

kan! Refers to doing something for something or someone •  Anda masuk ke rumahnya •  You entered his house •  Anda memasukkan mejanya •  You brought in the table •  It was your action the enabled the table to be entered

  Saya bawa buku-buku saya.  I carried my books   Saya bawakan buku-bukunya  I carried his books (for him)

Few words with many meanings! So you can use these endings to change the root word in many ways This includes adjectives and nouns

Examples!   Tanaman: plant

  Saya punya dua tanaman   I have two plants

  Saya tanami sawahnya   I am planting the rice field   The field is receiving my planting

  Saya tanam pohonnya   I am planting the tree   I am planting the tree

  Tidur- sleep (n) and to sleep (v)   Dia tidur nyenyak   She slept well

  Dia tidurkan anaknya   She put the child to sleep

  Dia tiduri sofa   She slept on the sofa

Prefixes! Some prefixes change the meaning of the root word and some do not

Ter-! One of meaning of ter- is to do something accidentally •  Tinggal- to stay •  Tertinggal- to leave accidentally

•  Bawa- to take •  Terbawa- to take accidentally

Pe- an! Changes a verb into a noun •  Kerja- to work



•  Pekerjaan- job

•  Tanya- to ask •  Pertanyaan- question

Se ! Can mean one or in the same place •  Rumah- house •  Serumah- one house, or in one house •  Teman serumah- housemate

•  Perempat- quarter •  Seperempat- one quarter (quarter past 3:00pm)

Your turn!!   Indonesian is a friendly language   When speaking, it’s important and fun to smile and be pleasant

  Has its own inflections, almost like a song   Apa kabar?

Introductions! Saya means both “I” and “My”   Nama saya Brenda   My name is Brenda

  I like cats   Saya suka kucing

  I am a student   Saya mahasiswa

Introduction Continued!   Apa kabar?   How are you? (Literally- What news?)

  Baik-baik   Well

  Terima kasih!   Thank you!

  And you?   Dan anda?

Other pronouns!   You- Anda   He/ She- Dia   They- Mereka   We (including speaker) - Kita   We (excluding speaker)- Kami

Origins!   Saya dari Texas   I am from Texas

  Mereka dari Colorado   They are from Colorado

  Dia dari Indonesia   She is from Indonesia

Preferences!   Suka- to like   Saya suka apel   I like apples

  Tidak- negation for verbs   Saya tidak suka merah   I don’t like red

Practice!! Let’s try some introductions!   Turn to the person next to you and shake their hand. Say your name.   Next time, try introducing yourself in Indonesian   Nama saya …

  Say where you are from   Saya dari…

  Ask them how they are   Apa kabar?

  Tell them how you are. Good?   Baik-baik

More practice!!   Take a few minutes to try some Indonesian sentences talking about what you like and what you do.

  If you are brave, try some sentences with other pronouns or people in your family.

Other vocabulary!                    

nice- baik smart- pintar cute- lucu hard working-rajin shy- pemalu cheerful- periang warm- hangat student (elmentary-HS)- siswa housewife- ibu rumah tangga house husband- bapak rumah tangga   business owner- wiraswasta   work in an office- bekerja di kantor

                         

university professor- dosen teacher- guru doctor- dokter mother- ibu father- bapak older sibling- kakak younger sibling- adik friend- teman you- Anda he/she- dia they- mereka we (inclusive)- kami we (exclusive)- kita