IV Pronouns
The proper use of the personal pronouns and of the nouns which are used for them presents some difficulty.
The following words may be used to express the first person singular, I:—
1. Aku, I.
2. Sahaya (lit. companion, slave; Sansk. sahâya).
3. Hamba (lit. slave), or hamba tuan (lit. master’s slave).
4. Perhamba (lit. lowest slave).
5. Beta (lit. slave).
6. Patek (lit. slave).
7. Tĕman (lit. companion).
The appropriate use of these pronouns is dependent upon the relative positions of the persons between whom communication takes place.
Aku is generally used by natives among themselves. Its use implies familiarity and equality. It should not be used by Europeans addressing natives, or by natives addressing Europeans.
Sahaya is the ordinary polite form used by Europeans in conversation with natives of all classes, and by natives of the upper class in addressing Europeans.
Ha ba, ha ba tuan, and perhamba are used by persons of inferior rank when addressing superiors. Hamba, if used by a chief or native of high rank, implies a certain affectation of modesty.
The use of beta is confined to literary composition, and it is incorrect to employ the word colloquially. It may be used by Europeans and natives.
Patek is used only by natives, and by them only when addressing a person of royal blood.
Tĕman is used only in intercourse between natives of the upper class and of approximately equal rank.
The first person plural is kita or kami, we. Kita is used when the person addressed is intended to be included. Kami, on the contrary, like the royal “we” in English, excludes the person addressed.
Sometimes the word orang is added without changing the signification; as kita orang, we.
Other forms are also in use, but they are generally provincialisms confined to particular states or districts. Sahaya apa, kita apa, and hamba tuan apa are used in Kedah, and sahaya-ma in Perak, for kita orang.
Colloquially the personal pronouns are often omitted to avoid repetition. This is done especially in narration or description; as, for example, in the following sentence: Lepas itu jalan pula ka-kampong singgah di rumah Haji Ismail hari pun sudah pĕtang langsong pulang ka-rumah maka nasi— Afterwards (I started) again (and) walked to the kampong, (and) stopped at the house of Haji Ismail, (and then), as it was evening, (I) went straight home (and) had my dinner.
Here the personal pronoun I is understood throughout.
The second person singular is angkau, you. Each syllable of this word may be used separately for the whole. Ang or hang is much employed in Kedah and Perak, and kau in other parts of the peninsula and in Borneo. In Perak mika, in Malacca awah, in Borneo kita, and in Batavia kweh, are also used. The preceding words are used by a superior addressing an inferior, or by the common people in ordinary (not in polite) conversation.
In polite conversation the use of angkau, or of most of the words given above, must be avoided, as it is considered by Malays to be vulgar or harsh. In addressing servants or followers, the name of the individual addressed is often inserted in the sentence instead of the pronoun you; as, in addressing Ismail: When you were at the bazaar just now who was with you?— Apabila Ismail di pekan tadi siapa sama? In the same way tuan, sir, master, is employed in addressing a haji or sayyid; tuan-ku or tunku, my lord, in addressing a raja; datoh, grandfather, in addressing a chief or penghulu.
Other words similarly employed are—
Abang (elder brother) or wah (uncle), to a man older than the speaker.
Kakak (elder sister), to a woman older than the speaker.
Adek (younger brother).
Inche (sir or madam), to respectable persons of either sex.
Examples
When did you arrive? (to a haji)— Bila-mana tuan sudah tiba?
I must ask one thing of you (to a raja)— Sahaya handak minta satu kapada tunku.
If you give the order (to a chief)— Jikalau datoh suroh.
Do not be angry (to an elderly man)— Jangan abang marah.
Please help yourselves to water (to guests of various ranks)— Datoh-datoh, tuan-tuan, inche-inche sakalian, sila berayer.
The use of the word lu, a form of the second person singular, derived from the Chinese, and generally used by Europeans, is offensive to Malays of all classes, and is altogether to be avoided.
In the plural kamu, ye, corresponds to angkau, you, in the singular; that is to say, it is used by a superior addressing inferiors. It is found in its contracted form mu in literary composition, but seldom colloquially; as ka-tahu-i uleh-mu, be it known unto ye.
Kamu is sometimes used in the singular also.
Third Person Singular
Dia or iya, he, she, it.
Dia and iya are used indifferently, but perhaps dia is more common in conversation and iya in literature.
The plural is dia orang (and sometimes, though less commonly, iya orang), they.
Another form of the third person plural is marika-itu, they, these, or those persons; but it is found in literary compositions only, and is not used in conversation.
A pronoun of the third person only used in conjunction with other words is -nia, a contraction of inia, he, she, it.
The indefinite form “one” (the French “on” and German “man”) is expressed in Malay by orang; as orang tiada bĕrani pergi sana, one dare not go there; kalau orang handak kawin, if one is about to marry.