Indonesian Language
Here’s a very simple introduction to start learning the Indonesian language.
The local language now used throughout Indonesia is actually a form of the original Malaysian language, with a few slight differences. If you can speak and understand Indonesian you can also talk with Malaysian people. Throughout the islands of Indonesia there are hundreds of different dialects many of which are not at all like the usual Indonesian. In the likes of Java and Bali the local people have 3 different local languages, these are linked with the caste system with lower cast people often not understanding higher caste people at all, unless the higher caste person wants them to.
Indonesian language can be a very simple language to learn. The problem I often see is that teachers tend to teach the more precise form of Indonesian which is much more difficult to learn and is very rarely used in normal situations. Only high or the very well educated will use this form of Indonesian. On a more village level, local people often Keep the language very simple indeed.
Below is a very brief sample with a few hints and words that may help you along in Indonesia. When you are talking with locals in English always remember to talk slowly and as clear as possible, do not use any slang and try to make your sentences as short as possible. Oh yeah… talking loud does not help in the slightest.
One of most important things when trying to talk with locals in their language is your pronunciation. It is very important to pronounce the words correctly. To do this you need a basic understanding of how they pronounce the vowels and a few other letters of importance:
Room – kamar Toilet – wc (waysay) Bathroom – kamar mandi Sleep – tidur (teedoorrr)
Shower – mandi Towel – handuk Place – tempat (t’mpat) Bed – tempat tidur
Blanket – seprei Pillow – bantal Book – buku (bookoo) Toilet paper – tisue guling (ti’su gooling)
Soap – sabun Shampoo – sampoo Toothpaste – pasta gigi
Boat – kapal Taxi – taksi Car – mobil Motorbike – motor
Driver – sopir (sopeerr) Road – jalan Walking – jalan jalan Run – lari
Dive – menyelam (m’nyelam) Tank – tanki Camera – kamera (kamra) Lamp – senter Fins – sepatu nyelam or fin
Mask – masker Wetsuit – baju selam (bajoo s’lam) Booties – boots
Fish – ikan (eekan) Coral – karang Island – pulau Tree – pohon Flower – bunga
Black – hitam (heetam) White – putih (pootee) Yellow – kuning Blue – biru Red – merah Pink – merah mudahBrown – cocolat (chocolat) Gold – mas Silver – perak
From – dari (daree) To – ke Want – Mau (mau) Where – mana (mana) There – sana (sana) Where are you from – anda dari mana Where do you want to go – anda mau kemana
I am from England/America – saya dari Inggris/Amerika
If you need plurals simply say the twice and in fruits buah buah.
The local currency is rupiah (rrrupeeya)
1 – satu (sattoo) 2 – dua (dooa) 3 – tiga (teega) 4 – empat (mpat) 5 – lima (leema)
6 – enam (nam) 7 – tujuh (toojoo) 8 – delapan (d’lapan) 9 – sembilan (simbilan)
10 – sepuluh (s’puloo) 11 – sebelas (s’blas) 12 – dua belas (dooa blas)
13 – tiga belas…. and so on following usual primary number till:
20 – dua puluh (dooa puloo) 21 – add primary number as in – dua puluh satu till:
30 – for all following numbers simply use primary number plus puluh till:
100 – seratus (s’ratus) – ratus being the number for hundreds as in: 200 – dua ratus
101 – simply add above numbers – seratus satu till:
1000 – seribu (s’reeboo) – ribu being the number for thousand
10000 – sepuluh ribu (s’puloo reeboo)
100000 – seratus ribu (s’ratus reeboo)
1000000 – satu juta (satoo joota) – just being the words for million
and so on….
Keep learning and enjoy this simple and fun language!
Periplus and other publishers produce handy pocket sized books for learning the basics of the Indonesian language.