Lesson XI On the Verbs Langsong, Lalu, &c.
In describing a proceeding which involves motion to a place or continuous action on the part of some person or thing, it is common to use the words langsong, lanjar or lanchar, and lalu, to proceed, go, direct one’s course. Their signification in a sentence is not easily translateable in English, but it is perhaps best rendered by the English idiom, to go and do a thing. Sometimes the effect is that of the adverbs “immediately,” “at last,” “incontinently,” “forthwith,” “altogether.” Langsong is generally used in Penang, but in Perak the Malays generally use lanjar in the same sense.
Examples
Intending to cook (food), to go and burn it— Handak masak langsong hangus.
He went to Meccah and never returned— Dia pergi ka-Makah lanjar ta’ balik.
The pony fell down and immediately died— Rĕbah kuda itu langsong mati.
He journeyed to Singapore and thence on to Johor— Ber-laiar-lah dia ka-Singgapura lalu ka-Johor.
He spat it out and then went and licked it up again— Sudah ludah lalu di-jilat (a proverb).
He took a knife and forthwith stabbed him— Dia ambil pisau langsong tikam.
He visited the districts down the river and thence went on to Kampar— Dia pergi ka-daira rantau hilir, lanjar ka-Kampar.
He has gone altogether— Dia sudah pergi langsong.
Lalu is often used in the sense of “can,” “able,” instead of buleh.
I cannot do it— Sahaya ta’ lalu buat.
For a day or two past she has been unable to eat— Sudah satu dua hari dia ta’ lalu makan nasi.6
Will fish swallow a bare hook?— Ada-kah ikan lalu me-makan mata kail sahaja?
Exercise
He got up and forthwith went away. He was very angry, and at once ordered him to go out. The ship struck on a rock and immediately sunk. He ate rice and then went to sleep. He stabbed him twice and immediately ran away. He came out of the house and at once fell down. He returned to his country and died there. Do you intend to go direct to Johor?
To cook, masak; to burn, hangus; to fall down, rĕbah; to return, balik; to spit, ludah; to lick, jilat; to take, ambil; to eat, makan; to go out, kaluar; to sink, tinggalam; a sail, laiar; to sail; ber-laiar; a knife, pisau; a district, daira; rice, bĕras; boiled rice, nasi; fish-hook, mata kail; reach of a river, rantau; down-stream, hilir; up-stream, hulu.
6. Makan nasi, eat rice. Malays do not, like us, say simply eat, read, write. It is more idiomatic to say, eat rice, read book, write letter.