Unique Javanese Words

I live in Indonesia, on an Island called Java (we call it Jawa). In everyday life I speak two languages, Indonesian and Javanese. Javanese is a pretty quirky language. It may looks complicated but it's actually pretty unique.

All the statistics are available on this wikipedia page if you're interested. In summary we have our own script called Aksara Jawa. It consists of 20 main letters. It's arranged in such a way that it tells a story. It's like having the English alphabets rearranged into a readable story. You can read more about it here.

We have many dialects based on the region it originated. Some words' pronunciation  can vary in different region. Some dialects may have a couple of words that do not exist in others. Apart from the differences, it generally has a similar structure. The one I'm going to talk about is called standard dialect or Mataraman dialect. Other than the script and dialects, we also use honorifics when talking to older or respected person.

Okay it definitely seems complicated but trust me it's going to be (hopefully) fun!

If English is not your native language (or not the only language you know), there's a chance that you have experienced some difficulty expressing certain words of your native language in English. Here's mine. I'm not talking about a couple of words being shortened to form a single word, or a shorter word to express a feeling or an object. I'm talking about Javanese words that are really hard to translate in English, and even in Indonesian

1. Ding (deng as in 'day+ing' but the "i" sound from "day" is omitted)

Ding is used when you've said something but then you want to make a correction. For example if you're in a restaurant.

Waiter: Are you ready to order?

You: Yes! I'd like a cup of coffee, please.

Waiter: *writes down your order.

You: Oh sorry, I'd have a cup of tea ding!

You might say, eeh it's just the same as 'instead'. Except, you can't directly say ding without saying the wrong sentence first, and ding has to be at the end of the sentence. you can't replace the following 'instead' with 'ding':

Waiter: So, a cup of tea and an apple pie?

You: Yes, but instead of a cup, I'd like my tea to be served in a wine glass please.

And this:

Susan: So you're going to take the bus today as usual?

You: No, I'll take the train instead.

Ding has to be at the end of a sentence, and has to correct something. The Indonesian counterpart would be 'deh'.

2. Gene (gay nay)

 Gene is used in the following situation:

Your ex boyfriend (I can't relate because I never have any boyfriend) is having a birthday party and you're invited. Your roomate Susan is asking if you'd go.
Susan: So, are you going to the party?
You: Nope, I will not accept his invitation, never!
Susan: Okay, I'll go by myself.

So Susan went by herself but then you changed your mind and went without telling her. You met Susan later at the party.

Susan: *sees you* Hey! Gene you're here!

It's like Susan is saying: Hey! You said you wouldn't go but you end up going! (but in a more annoying way, sort of questioning your integrity)

I'll give you one more example. You're mad with your sister because she ate half of your cake slice even though she already ate hers and you clearly said that nobody can eat your cake. So you said to your sister out of anger:
You: Eat all of it! I don't want it anymore!
But your sister is a good girl and she left the rest of the cake slice for you. You realized that you still want that cake so you eat it anyway. Your sister walked to the dining room and spotted you eating your cake and she said: Gene you eat that anyway!

3. Anu (ah noo)

Anu can replace almost any words in any part of the sentence.

Original sentence: She is eating a cake that has been baked by the baker who lives next door.
1st alternative: Anu is eating a cake that has been baked by the baker who lives next door.
2nd alternative: She is anu-ing a cake that has been baked by the baker who lives next door.
3rd alternative: She is eating an anu that has been baked by the baker who lives next door.
4th alternative: She is eating a cake that has been anu-ed by the baker who lives next door.
5th alternative: She is eating a cake that has been baked by the anu who lives next door.
6th alternative: She is eating a cake that has been baked by the baker who anu next door.
7th alternative: She is eating a cake that has been baked by the baker who lives at anu.

Those sentences are exaggerated and none really talks like that but that's the general idea. Anu can replace anything you're not sure to say.

Anu, on its own can also mean 'uhm', a word you say if you're not sure what to say.

4. Adding 'ii' or 'wi' at the end of a sentence
 The 'ii' or 'wi' (read as ee and wii with longer duration than normal syllables) is added to emphasize your point.
You: Did you see my phone?
Sister: No, when was the last time you used it?
You: I can't remember.
Sister: Maybe you left it in the car.

You: But I've checked the car ii.

It's almost like 'though'. People don't usually write this down but it's spoken a lot in my region.

5. Mbok

 Mbok can mean mother, but not in this case. Mbok is used to advise someone to do certain things. For example:

You: Susan, do you know where my phone is?

Susan: I don't know.

You: I can't find it.

Susan: *looks at your messy room* Mbok if you're done with your things, put them back where they're supposed to be.

So it's like Susan is saying: "Please do this, if you're done with your things, put them back where they're supposed to be."

Susan: I have trouble installing this software.

You: It's easy.

Susan: Mbok help me.

It's like please, but stronger, like "Why don't you" or "it's better if you do..."

The next ones are not exactly hard to translate but they're interesting:

6. Different types of falling
Kejlungup, kejungkang, kegledhak, kedhegling
All of those words mean to fall. But each of them represents a specific type of falling.
- kejlungup: falling forward
- kejungkang: falling backward from a sitting position
- kegledhak: falling backward from a standing position, usually head first
- kedhegling: falling because of losing balance suddenly from one or both feet (usually the ankle or knee), for example when you wear high heels and your ankles are going out of control, or when you're standing and your friend sneakily prank you by pushing your knee from behind so you lose your balance.

There's also a couple of words to represent being tripped over
- kesandung: being tripped over something
- kesrimpet: being tripped over something long such as scarf or cable

That's all I can think about for now. I promised you a fun post last time, I hope it's fun enough hehe.

Javanese language is really beautiful. When there's a wedding, the bride and groom will choose a man to represent each of their family. They will give a speech with the most beautiful words. The words are sometimes so beautiful that younger people like me have a hard time understanding. Javanese language can be so soft, it will ennoble the other person to the extend of referring them as princes and princesses (at a wedding).

I'm trying to think about a really funny thing to write for the next post. Maybe this week. Let's write something hilarious! À bientôt!