Part IV

To the more advanced lessons and exercises which are contained in this section, it may be well to prefix a few notes on colloquial Malay, which are suggested by a consciousness of some of the common errors into which European students of Malay are apt to fall.

First, Try to observe and imitate the impersonal and elliptical construction of Malay sentences. Notice how much more is left to the imagination than in English, and get rid of the notion that it is necessary to express invariably by nouns or pronouns the agents or objects of the actions spoken of. Ideas are conveyed in Malay in a much less concrete form than in the civilised languages of Europe, and what is lost in accuracy and distinctness is partially compensated for by brevity.

Why say kasih sama sahaya (lit. “give to me”), in imitation of the English give me, or the French donnez-moi, or the German geben sie mir, in all of which the pronoun is expressed, when a Malay would simply say bahagi-lah, give, or bawa, bring? It is easy enough to leave tone or gesture to supply any deficiency in meaning. The constant use of this phrase, sama sahaya, or sama kita, is a bad habit, which arises from a natural desire to give the word “me” its due value in Malay. This, as has been shown, is not necessary.

Examples

Tell me; don’t be afraid— Bilang-lah, jangan takut; not, bilang sama sahaya, &c.

What are you going to give us?— Apa mahu bahagi? not, apa mahu bahagi sama kita?

How much must I pay you?— Bĕr-apa nanti kĕna bayar? not, bĕr-apa sahaya mahu bayar sama angkau?

I want him to make me a jacket— Sahaya handak suroh dia buat baju; not, sahaya handak suroh dia buat baja sama sahaya.

Can you make me a table?— Buleh-kah buat meja? not, buleh-kah buat meja sama sahaya.

Afterwards come and tell me— Lepas itu mari-lah khabar-kan; not, mari bilang sama sahaya.

In direct narration the personal pronoun “I” should often be left untranslated, and the sentence put in an impersonal form. We are accustomed to commence sentences frequently with “I think,” “I hear,” “I hope,” “I wish,” and there is a temptation therefore to overload Malay sentences with “Sahaya fikir,” “Sahaya dengar khabar,” &c. These, though not ungrammatical, should be used sparingly. Rasa-nia, the feeling is, agak-nia, the guess is, rupa-nia, the appearance is (it seems), khabar-nia, the report is, and similar phrases, should often take their place.

Examples

Instead of— I am told, or people tell me, Orang bilang sama sahaya; Say, People say, Kata orang.

Instead of— I hear that he is coming here, Sahaya dengar khabar dia handak mari sini; Say, He is coming here, the report goes, Dia handak kamari khabar-nia.

Instead of— I think there are five quarts, Sahaya fikir ada lima chupah; Say, There are five quarts, the estimate is, Ada lima chupah agak-nia.

Instead of— I think it is going to rain, Sahaya fikir hari handak hujan; Say, It is going to rain, it seems, Hari handak hujan rupa-nia.

Instead of— I like driving better than walking, Sahaya lagi suka naik kreta deri-pada jalan kaki; Say, It is better to drive than to walk, Baik ber-kreta deri-pada ber-jalan.

Note the impersonal way of putting the statement in the following sentences:—

I was very glad to hear it— Sangat-lah suka hati sahaya akan men-dengar.

I very much wish to go to Meccah— Niat hati sahaya handak pergi ka-Makah.

I should be doing wrong to receive it, and I am ashamed to return it— Handak tĕrima salah, handak pulang-kan malu.

I was disappointed— Putus-lah harap sahaya.

I hope sincerely that the case will soon be decided— Besar-lah harap sahaya bichara itu akan di-putus-kan dengan sigra.

I have made up my mind that, however great the oppression may be, I will hold out— Tetap-lah hati sahaya bageimana bĕrat sakali-pun handak tahan juga.

Second, Avoid word-for-word translations of English sentences in which the word “you” occurs. So much has been said on this subject already (supra, pp. 49, 75) that it is only necessary here to give a few additional illustrations of the mode in which Malays dispense with the pronoun. In most English and Malay phrase-books the use of angkau is far too frequent.

As you like— Mana suka-lah.

As you may think best— Mana elok kapada hati sendiri.

You can go— Buleh pulang.

I have nothing more to ask you— T’ada apa lagi handak tanya.

Where have you been?— Pergi ka-mana tadi?

If you do so another time you will certainly be punished— Kalau buat lagi sakali bageimana yang sudah ini tuntu-lah kena hukum.

Do you want employment?— Handak minta karja-kah?

Can you wait at table?— Tahu-kah jaga meja?

What are you doing?— Apa buat?

You must take great care of it, and see that it is not injured— Mahu-lah jaga baik-baik, jangan di-rosak-kan-nia.

Even in reprimanding or scolding another, it is common in Malay to adopt an impersonal and not a direct mode of address. Instead of saying, “You are a lazy, good-for-nothing boy, and deserve a good thrashing,” the Malay says, “What manner of boy is this? If one were to beat him soundly it would be well.”

Examples

Are you deaf? Can’t you hear what I say to you?— Tuli-kah budak ini? Orang kata t’ada dengar-kah? (Lit. Is the boy deaf? does he not hear what one is saying?)

How slow you are! or, what a time you are taking!— Ai budak ini! bukan lambat-nia! (Lit. Oh, this boy! Isn’t he slow?)

How slowly you are rowing! Can’t you pull faster when you are told? Give way, will you!— Ai, bukan lengah dayong budak ini, bukan-kah orang suroh dĕras. Dĕras-lah sadikit. (Lit. Oh, are not these boys rowing slowly! Has not one told them to make haste? Quick! now, a little!)

You are behaving exceedingly badly, and it would serve you right if you got a caning— Jahat sakali orang ini, kalau bahagi rasa sadikit dengan rotan baharu dia ingat. (Lit. This person is exceedingly bad; if one were to make him feel with a rattan he would remember.)

What an idiot you are! I tell you to bring water, and you bring oil— Budak bedebah ini! Orang suroh bawa ayer di-bawa-nia minyak.

Third, Do not be satisfied with one general Malay verb to describe a whole class of actions for which separate specific words exist. It may be possible to make oneself intelligible by using pukul, to strike, for every kind of blow, but it is preferable to employ the appropriate term for the particular mode of striking.

The following lists will illustrate this caution:—

Pukul, to strike, beat.

Gasak, to beat, flog, punish.

Hentam, to strike, attack, throw.

Balun, to beat, thrash, drub.

Palu, to beat, hammer, knock.

Kĕtok, to knock, tap, rap.

Godam, to thrash, hammer.

Lantak, to nail, to drive in.

Tinju-kan, to box, strike with the fist.

Tumbuk, to pound, strike with the fist.

Bĕdal, to switch.

Sakal, and sakai, to strike.

Tampar, and tampiling, to slap.

Tepuk, to pat.

Chuchuk, to thrust, poke.

Merusuk, to thrust, poke, pierce.

Radak or rodok, to pierce with a spear.

Juluk, to thrust upwards.

Tikam, to thrust, pierce, stab.

Sigi, to poke with the finger.

Merunjang, to lower a spear at the charge.

Angkat, to lift, carry off, remove.

Pikul, to carry on the back, to carry a load.

Kandar, to carry on a stick over the shoulder.

Bibit, to carry with the fingers.

Junjong, to carry on the head.

Tanggong, to bear, carry, support.

Gendong, to carry slung in a bundle.

Usong, to carry in a litter.

Julang, to hold aloft, to hoist, to carry with the arm uplifted.

Bawa, to carry, convey, bring.

Dukong, to carry on the back or hip.

Kepit, to carry under the arm.

Jinjing, to carry in the arms or hands.

Galas, to carry slung over the back or shoulder.

Kilik, to carry under the arm.

Bebat, to carry in the girdle.

Tatang, to carry on the palms of the hands.

Kandong, to carry at the waist.

Jatoh, to fall, drop.

Gugur, to drop off, fall, miscarry.

Tumbang, to fall, tumble down.

Reban, to fall in, give way, tumble down.

Runtoh, to come down, to fall.

Luroh, to drop off, fall (as fruit).

Titek, to drop, distil (as water).

Rĕbah,1 to tumble, fall.

Timpa, to fall against.

Chichir, to drop, to spill.

Tumpah, to spill.

Buang, to throw away.

Lotar or lontar, to hurl, fling.

Lempar, to throw, fling.

Humban, to throw down, cast away.

Champak, to throw down, cast away.

Baling, to throw, fling.

Lanting, to throw, cast, propel.

Lihat, to see.

Pandang, to look, to look at.

Kelih, to see.

Nampa, to see, perceive.

Intei, to peep, spy, observe.

Petiak, to notice, observe.

Tulih, to look, glance.

Tengok, to see.

Jingok, to peep, look out.

Tengadah, to look up.

Tampak, to see, perceive.

Per-hati-kan, to perceive, notice, take notice of.

Tentang, to regard.

Chakap, to speak.

Bilang, to tell.

Khabar-kan, to tell, inform.

Ber-mulut, to speak, utter.

Sabda, to say, command.

Cheritra-kan, to relate.

Meripit, to chatter, gabble.

Mengomong, to chat, gossip.

Kata, to say, speak, talk.

Tutur, to talk, tell, converse.

Sĕbut, to tell, mention.

Uchap, to utter, express.

Titah, to say, command (as a raja).

Merongut, to mutter.

Ber-bual, to chat.

Ber-sungut, to grumble, to murmur.

Fourth, Learn to employ the passive form of the verb which takes the prefix di-. Easy examples of this have been given occasionally in the preceding lessons, and the exercises on pages 107 and 108 contain abundant illustrations of it. It is a mistake to suppose that the Malay passive is confined to the written language; it is of common use colloquially among Malays, but, probably because it offers certain difficulties of construction, it is little understood and seldom employed by Europeans in the Straits of Malacca.

“He did not, or would not, accept it,” would be vulgarly rendered dia ta’ mahu tĕrima; but it may be more elegantly translated tiada-lah di-tĕrima-nia, “It was not accepted by him.” Here the affix -nia has the force of “by him,” and, as it denotes the agent, immediately follows the verb in accordance with the rule stated on p. 61.

Examples

He ordered (it was ordered by him)— Di-suroh-nia.

He seized the robber (the robber was seized by him)— Di-tangkap-nia penchuri.

They cut away (were cut away by them) the huts and prevented the fire from spreading far— Di-potong-nia rumah-rumah tiada di-bĕri me-larat panjang api itu.

The rats ate up three candles— Dian tiga batang habis di-makan tikus.

They have not yet erected the house; they are getting the timber ready— Rumah belum di-diri-kan lagi, tengah di buat kayu-kayu-nia.

The boat was leaky and the water got in— Bochor prahu itu di-masok ayer dalam-nia.

He only allowed him to use it; he did not give it to him out and out— Di-bĕri pakei sahaja bukan di-bĕri-nia langsong.

He said that it was too late to send an answer— Handak di-balas pun kata-nia sudah ter-lepas waktu-nia.

He asked for information about the house that is being built— Di-tanya-nia deri-pada hal rumah yang di-per-buat itu.

When the country becomes populous it will be right to raise the assessment— Apabila negri sudah ramei bahru-lah patut di-per-naik-kan hasil-nia.

God, ever to be praised and most high, gave his aid, and on that very day there descended the heaviest shower of rain possible— Di-tulong Allah subhana wa ta’ala pada waktu hari itu di-turun hujan sa-habis-habis lebat.

The people of the village feasted abundantly— Jenoh-lah di-makan orang kampong itu.

Fifth, Bear in mind the distinction between the force given to a verb by the particle ber- (be-, bel-), and that which is caused by prefixing me- (mem-, meng-, men-, and meny-); see supra, p. 55.

When the former is employed, the verb describes a state or condition, and is intransitive. The latter generally denotes a verb expressing an action. Apparent departures from this rule are found sometimes, but these often arise from a difficulty in classifying a particular verb. Such a verb, for instance, as “to weep,” may be viewed in two ways—either as descriptive of the condition of the person who weeps or of the act of weeping; the former is expressed in Malay by ber-tangis and the latter by menangis, but practically the distinction is not great. So memakei (pakei), to wear, merajuk, to sulk, menanti, to wait, and others, seem to describe states or conditions, notwithstanding that they have the particle me-; but this is explained by showing that in their primary meanings they really convey an idea of action, memakei meaning to put on, merajuk, to show temper, and menanti, to await somebody or something.

The following derivative verbs will illustrate the rule laid down above:—

Primitive. ———	Derivative with ber-. ———	Derivative with me-. ———
angkat, to lift.	ber-angkat, to arise.	meng-angkat, to lift.
alih, to change.	ber-alih, to undergo change.	meng-alih, to change.
balik, behind, back.	ber-balik, to turn (intrans.)	mem-balik, to turn, return (trans.)
diri, self, being.	ber-diri, to stand up.	men-diri-kan, to cause to stand, to establish.
ganti, instead of.	ber-ganti, to take the place of.	meng-ganti, to put in the place of.
habis, finished.	ber-habis, to be finished.	meng-habis, to finish, to complete.
igau, delirium.	ber-igau, to be delirious.	meng-igau, to rave.
ikat, tie, bond.	ber-ikat, to be fastened.	meng-ikat, to tie, fasten.
ingat, memory, to remember.	ber-ingat, to be sensible of.	meng-ingat, to call to mind, remember.
jaga, to watch, guard.	ber-jaga, to be on watch.	menjaga, to watch, to guard.
keliling, around.	ber-keliling, to border, surround.	mengeliling, to hem in, to go round.
karja, work.	ber-karja, to be a workman.	mengarja-kan, to work, effect, accomplish.
lepas, loosed.	ber-lepas, to be free.	melepas, to set free.
lambat, slow.	ber-lambat, to be slow.	me-lambat, to retard.
labuh, to lower, drop.	ber-labuh, to be at anchor.	me-labuh, to let fall, to anchor.
naung, shade.	ber-naung, to be sheltered.	me-naung-i, to shelter, to shade, protect.
pegang, to hold.	ber-pegang, to hold.	memegang, to take hold of, to seize.
rugi, loss.	be-rugi, to suffer loss.	me-rugi-kan, to cause loss.
sembunyi, to hide.	ber-sembunyi, to be concealed.	menyembunyi, to hide, conceal.
takut, afraid, fear.	ber-takut, to be afraid.	menyakut-kan, to frighten.
ubah, change, to change.	ber-ubah, to undergo change.	meng-ubah, to change, to alter.

Sixth, Notice must be taken of the common native habit (not one to be imitated by Europeans learning the language) of inserting in a sentence words which have no meaning to fill a temporary hiatus while the speaker is thinking of his next word. These prop-words or pillow-words, to borrow a Hindustani phrase,2 are numerous in Malay and vary in different localities. Anu, bahasa-nia, misal3-nia, and kata-kan are some of those commonly used.

Seventh, The following abbreviations are commonly employed:—

Na’ for handak; sikit for sadikit; auat for apa-buat? why?; ta’ and t’ada for tiada; pi and pĕgi (in Patani gi) for pergi.

1. Also ribah and rubuh.

2. The Hindustani term is sukhan-takya, from sukhan, a word, and takya a pillow.

3. Corresponding with the Hindustani maslan, which is used in a similar way.

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