Kelas Bahasa

2011-06-27T08:40:00.002-04:00

This blog has MOVED!

Please visit our new home - http://www.kelasbahasa.com/

#1 Bahasa Indonesia Pronunciation Mistake

2010-10-09T19:20:00.006-04:00

Recently I was asked to assist some Indonesian language students with their reading, with a focus on pronunciation and fluency. As I listened to how they were pronouncing their words both in their speaking and reading, it was screamingly clear to me what the #1 trap 99% of the students were falling into... despite the fact that there ARE plenty of native Indonesian speakers here for them to learn from.

Can you guess what it is?

It's the "ng" combination when it's found in the middle of a word. For example, here are some of the most common everyday words where the 'ng' diphthong (letter combination that makes a single sound) shows up:

mengerti (to understand)
dengan (with)
ingin (wish / want)
jangan (don't)
tangan (hand)
mengingat (to remember)

Really, there are many, many words that have the 'ng' combo in the middle.

So what's the trap?

It's pronouncing the 'g' as a hard letter 'g' rather than the combo sound of 'ng' together. The correct sound is the same as in English when we say sung, or lung.

In Indonesian, the 'ng' combination is just that sound that you make at the back of your throat like you do at the end of the word sung. A hard 'g' sound should not be heard at the beginning of the next syllable.

Here's a short sound clip of each of the above words, first pronounced the wrong way, and then the correct way. Can you hear the difference?

It can be a little tricky to get it right at first, but once you've got it, you will start to break that bad habit of pronouncing the hard 'g' sound when it is not called for in a word.

Of course, the exception to this is when there is a double 'g' in the word, such as with...

tinggal (stay)
sungguh (really)
hingga (until)
Inggris (English)

In these words you do still have the 'ng' combo, but it's the second 'g' that gets the hard sound.

Here's a sound clip of how each of these words should be pronounced.

If you can learn to make this slight differentiation in how you pronounce Indonesian words with the diphthong 'ng' (where no second 'g' follows it) you will go a long way to losing your English accent! :-)

Have you mastered the 'ng' sound in bahasa Indonesia yet?

What has been your experience?

Let's get a discussion going on this tricky bit of Indonesian pronunciation. Just leave a comment below.

Gabrielle

This blog is not dead... just sleeping!

2010-10-01T11:47:00.011-04:00

Hi everyone!

Have you wondered whether this blog has long ago been abandoned?

Well, it hasn't, really. It's just basically been in a long sleep because I have been too busy to devote time to this site. But my heart and intention have been to return to put more information together to help you along with your Indonesian language learning. And I do have some GREAT plans for that!

Plans that I am determined to carry out!

Technology has advanced from when I first started this site (and in my business where I make a living as a virtual bookkeeper and QuickBooks trainer online, I've learned how to use much of the new online technology), and there are some great ways that we can use them for learning to speak bahasa Indonesia much more quickly, and fun now!

These new ways include audio, video and even online live, interactive events!

But first things first. The goal of this post is to notify you that I will be moving this blog off of the Blogger platform and onto my own website soon. That way I will have much more flexibility to provide you with multi-media posts in the coming year.

Okay, you've heard me say I'm going to give this attention before... so let me prove to you that I'm serious about this and put a date on it. You can even harass me to MAKE SURE that I get it done! ;-)

So here's my commitment to you: I will have the all-new Kelas Bahasa site ready for you (and will notify everyone who is on the mailing list) by November 30th, 2010. The new website address is http://www.kelasbahasa.com/.

If you go there now, you will see that I have already set up a new blog site, but the look and feel of it will change (since the technology has even improved since I did this just a couple months ago!)

So there you have it, my commitment to getting on the ball and working hard to bring you more ways to learn bahasa Indonesia... and have fun in the process! :-)

In the meantime, I'd love to hear about what YOU would like to have included on the new blog to help you along in your language learning. So please leave a comment below and let me know any ideas YOU have for making this an amazing and valuable place to learn and improve your Indonesian language skills.

Terima kasih buaaaanyak (that's how many Javanese people emphasize that they are VERY thankful...though I'm not Javanese, I am VERY thankful for you! :-)

Selamat belajar!

Gabrielle

PS - If you haven't already, you should get onto the email notification list so that you get notified when the new site it up and ready for you with some brand new Indonesian language learning lessons. You can sign up here:

Kelas Bahasa Notification List

Long Overdue Update

2007-10-19T20:49:00.000-04:00

This is a quick message that is long overdue!

First, let me apologize for not posting any new lessons in soooo long! I have not forgotten about this blog, just been busy with many other projects. But some of them will affect the future of Kelas Bahasa! So listen up!

I am in the process of developing methods for learning Indonesian that are much more effective than just this simple blog. The new classes will include video and audio! And those of you who are subscribed to the Kelas Bahasa list will be the first to get these new lessons, once they are ready. You are just going to LOVE what's coming up.

Thank you so much for all your positive comments so far. But now I need your help to know EXACTLY what you want most. What would help YOU learn the Indonesian language more quickly? What's holding you back?

Do you really need to understand more grammar?
Do you find it difficult to understand everyday langauge while speaking with Indonesian people (especially those who are from Jakarta or Surabaya)?
Are you having trouble expanding your vocabulary?

Please let me know what your greatest challenge has been learning bahasa Indonesia, and I will create lessons just for you....and we will all learn in the process!

I look forward to hearing from you! Simply give me your thoughts and ideas in the comments below.

Sampai ketemu lagi, ya?

What Time Is It Anyway?

2006-11-21T22:21:00.000-05:00

Telling time is not always an easy thing in Indonesian. However, the necessity of being "on time" is generally not as important to the Indonesian people culturally either. They are usually pretty easy-going when it comes to being late. In fact, being up tight about time is considered a Western thing.

When one is late, often the only explanation offered is simply, "jam karet" or time is rubber. In other words, time is believed to be stretch-able, without any real negative consequences. (Hmmm, is that a good enough excuse for why this Kelas Bahasa article is so terribly late, I wonder?)

However, there is still of course the necessity to tell time, for there are schedules to be kept, at least in theory. But learning how to tell time in Indonesian will likely take a little practice.

The word "jam" is probably most commonly used to indicate the hour. However, the word "pukul" is also used. When asking the time, syntax, or the order in which you say the words, does affect the meaning, so be careful.

Jam berapa? (What time is it?)

example: Kamu harus pulang jam berapa?
(What time do you have to go home?)

As compared to:

Berapa jam? (How many hours?)

example: Berapa jam sampai kamu harus pulang?
(How many hours until you must go home?)

When telling time, always use the word "jam" or "pukul" at the beginning to indicate that you are talking about the time of day. For example:

Jam tiga (Three o'clock)

Pukul dua belas siang (Twelve o'clock noon)

Jam tujuh pagi (Seven o'clock in the morning)

As you may have noticed, to indicate AM or PM, you simply say the period of the day, such as morning, afternoon, etc.

pagi = 1:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
siang = 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
sore = 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
malam = 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.

Of course, just to make things interesting, at times, you may also hear Indonesian people use a 24-hour clock, or military time.

Now it's time to get into the real fun stuff!

In English, on the half hour, we might say it is "two thirty" or "half PAST two." In Indonesian, they are looking to the hour ahead and express it as "half TO three"! This forward-looking way of expressing time has been borrowed from the Dutch. Here are a few examples:

7:30 = jam setengah delapan (half [before] eight)
1:30 = jam setengah dua (half [before] two)
11:30 a.m. = pukul setengah dua belas siang (half [before] twelve [in the] afternoon)

If this is confusing, don't fret. It takes a little getting used to. There is, however, an alternative you can use in a pinch. But it does sound rather stiff and overly formal to your listeners.

As in English, you can express the minutes after the hour digitally, such as:

2:30 = jam dua, tiga puluh menit
7:45 = jam tujuh, empat puluh lima menit

Often you will also hear the minutes after the hour expressed using the words "lebih" (more) or "lewat" (past):

7:45 = jam tujuh lewat empat puluh lima menit
5:10 = jam lima lebih sepuluh menit

To express minutes before the hour, the word "kurang" (less) should be used.

4:50 = jam lima kurang sepuluh menit
1:35 = jam dua kurang dua puluh lima menit

And if you wish, fractions can be used the same way they are in English:

9:45 = jam sepuluh kurang seperempat
(quarter to ten)

10:15 = jam sepuluh lewat seperempat
(quarter after ten)

Had enough? Good. Because that's it. We've covered all the essentials of telling time in Indonesian.

Don't be overwhelmed by the varying choices. The best way to learn each of these time-telling techniques is to pick just one or two, and use them over and over again until you get the hang of it.

Once you feel comfortable, then add another method for telling time to your repertoire. Eventually you'll want to become adept at using them all. But be patient with yourself. It takes time.

I still hesitate on a few of the above methods. So why not join me and do some extra practice this month to see how much progress we can achieve, and make up for lost time! ;-)

So what time is it? Time to practice!!

Sampai kita belajar bersama-sama sekali lagi,

Selamat belajar! :-D

gabrielle
www.hello-indonesia.com

Learning to Say No

2006-08-08T10:03:00.000-04:00

Are you the type of person who has difficulty saying ‘No’? Well I’ve got some good news and some bad news for you.

The good news is, Indonesian people are generally polite and kind, so they often don’t like to say ‘No’ either. The bad news is, that could be why saying ‘No’ in Indonesian is not such a simple matter.

There are several ways to express negatives in Indonesian, and different words are appropriate in different situations. In this lesson let’s learn how to say ‘No’, with all its shades of meaning, as the Indonesians do.

Not a Simple No

The two words that clearly mean ‘no’ or ‘not’ are Tidak and Bukan. In most cases, however, they are not interchangeable. Let’s dig a little deeper and start with the most common of the two.

Tidak – Use this word when saying 'no' or 'not' about actions or descriptions (verbs and adjectives). Here are some examples of the proper use of Tidak:

Pak Rudi tidak gemuk. (Pak Rudi is not fat.)

Anak itu tidak taat. (That child is not obedient.)

Andy tidak tinggal di Jakarta. (Andy does not live in Jakarta.)

Saya tidak suka pada rasa susu. (I don’t like the taste of milk.)

The word tidak is used so often, that there are also shortened forms of it both in formal and informal language, such at tak, nggak, gak, and ga.

Bukan – This is the other word that means ‘no’ or ‘not’, but you will hear it less often because it is used when negating people, places or things (nouns and pronouns).

Wanita itu bukan teman saya. (That woman is not my friend.)

Bukan, saya bukan guru. (No, I am not a teacher.)

Mobil dia bukan Toyota. (His car is not a Toyota.)

Payung merah bukan milikmu. (The red umbrella is not yours. - lit. 'your possession')

Hint: A quick trick that helps when trying to remember when to use tidak or bukan is to check the word that immediately follows the ‘no’ equivalent – tidak should be before verbs and adjectives; bukan should be before nouns and pronouns.

Bukan at times is also used as a question confirmation tag, which has the meaning of, ‘is it not?’ In this situation, it might be shortened to just ‘kan’. You will see or hear this at the end of a statement, such as:

Wah! Suhu hari ini tinggi sekali, bukan? (Wow! Today's temperature is very high, isn’t it?)

Kamu punya mobil, kan? (You have a car, don’t you?)

Softening the Blow

As mentioned at the outset, Indonesian people often do not feel comfortable saying a straight out ‘no’, especially to requests. So here are several common ways to say 'no', without quite saying it.

Belum – means ‘not yet’ but is often used to indicate a 'no' that is softer and less final. Always remember that Indonesian people like to stay open to the possibilities!

Use belum when speaking about an experience, time or action. It is also used even when there is no chance of something ever happening. For example:

Apakah Budi sudah pulang? Belum. (Has Budi gone home? Not yet.)

Anda pernah ke Indonesia? Belum. (Have you been to Indonesia? Not yet.)

Tanteku yang berumur 90 tahun, dia menikah? Belum.
(Your aunt who is 90 years old, is she married? Not yet.)

Kurang – also used to soften a negative. In this instance it means ‘not really’ and may soften what would otherwise sound rather harsh.

Warung itu kurang baik. (That diner isn’t really good.)

Susan kurang mengerti bahasa Inggris. (Susan doesn’t really understand English.)

Mungkin nanti or Mungkin kapan-kapan - These expressions mean 'maybe later' or 'maybe sometime', which puts off giving an immediate unfavorable answer, that being, 'no.' Procrastination at its best! These expressions are often preceeded by the word 'ya' even though the phrase is a polite way of saying a probable 'no' without really saying it.

Mau ke bioskop sama saya? Ya, mungkin kapan-kapan.
(Want to go to the movies with me? Yes, maybe sometime.)

Boleh saya pinjam mobilmu? Ya, mungkin nanti.
(May I borrow your car? Yes, maybe later.)

When it Must Be Said

There is one word in Indonesian that indicates a strong and definite negative. It is Jangan. Often used emphatically, it expresses strong feeling. It means “Don’t!”

Jangan lupa saya! (Don’t forget me!)

Jangan masuk. (Don’t enter)

The best way to get the hang of saying 'no' in Indonesian, like much of language learning in general, is to simply listen to as much native Indonesian conversation as possible, as well as jumping in and trying it out what you've been learning.

You can always use ‘tidak’ when in doubt, and you will be correct most of the time. Your meaning will be understood. And with time and practice, you will come to appreciate the texture and elegance of how to say ‘no’ as the Indonesians do.

Selamat belajar!

gabrielle
http://www.hello-indonesia.com/

P.S. A great way to get exposure to Indonesian language is by listening to live radio and TV over the Internet. Here is a link to a few stations that you can listen to using Windows Media Player, which is probably already installed on your computer. http://tinyurl.com/rlg7m

Learning to Slide into Indonesian Slang

2006-06-06T19:02:00.000-04:00

Before we begin…

I must say THANKS to all of you for your kind patience.

Kelas Bahasa has been in recess for far too long! Have you been slacking off in your studies while I’ve been otherwise occupied? I hope not! ;-)

It’s high time we got back to the lessons! So although it seems like eons since the last kelas, this article will get us moving again with a popular subject: Slang language.

While Indonesian is a relatively easy language to learn, that is, as far as grammar and pronunciation are concerned, understanding day-to-day conversation is an entirely different story. The reason is generally due to the usage of what is call “bahasa gaul” or social language. This is primarily found in spoken conversation, but has also become quite prevalent in e-mail and text messaging communication.

Indonesian slang is a norm in everyday life. Because students of Indonesian usually only study formal language, we can seem quite stiff in casual conversations with Indonesian people. And for us, when they are speaking among themselves, it often seems as though they use so many words we haven’t learned yet. The reality is, they are using slang, probably even more than they realize.

Where Does It Come From?

The city of Jakarta has the most commonly used slang, which is also called Prokem. Its roots are from decades ago when it was a sort of disguised language among criminals. But over time, a form of it eventually became popular with teenagers and young adults. Now, however, it is used widely by all ages in casual conversation, as well as in popular media.

Inherently, Indonesian slang is dynamic and always changing, influenced by popular trends. It is most commonly spoken in large cities. Slang words and expressions vary in different areas, often borrowing from the local ethnic languages, such as Sundanese in West Java, Javanese in Central Java, Balinese in Bali, and Monadonese in North Sulawesi.

How Does it Work?

I certainly do not have it all figured out yet! And quite interestingly, neither do a lot of Indonesian people themselves. However, the more you are exposed to it in casual situations, the more you will start to learn, almost by osmosis. It just takes time and association. But isn’t that how one learns slang in any language? You don’t think about it, it just sneaks into your conversation somehow.

Keep in mind that slang is often a shortcut. That’s one reason it is used. Here are a few patterns that come from formal Indonesian that I’ve picked up along the way:

- Adding –in to the end of a root word to make it an active verb. Examples:
Formal root word = dengar (hear) becomes slang = dengarin
Formal root word = bantu (help) becomes slang = bantuin

- Dropping the me- on the front end of an active verb and adding –in to the end. Examples:
Formal = mengapa (why) becomes slang = ngapain (why? or doing what?)
Formal = menanyakan (ask) becomes slang = nanyain

- Dropping one or several letters from a word. Examples:
Formal = sudah (already) / slang = uda
Formal = habis (depleted) / slang = abis
Formal = saja (only, just) / slang = aja
There are tons of these!

- Combination sounds (dipthongs) merged into one. Examples:
Formal = sampai (until) / slang = sampe (pronounced “sam-pay”)
Formal = kalau (if/when) / slang = kalo

- Contraction of two words into one. Examples:
Formal = lanjut usia (elderly) / slang = lansia
Formal = terima kasih (thank you ) / slang = makasih

- Add a dragged out ‘u’ before a vowel to exaggerate the description. Example:
Formal = banyak (much/many) / slang = buanyak (pronounced “boo-an-yak”)
Formal = beda (different) / slang = bueda

There are also quite a few words that don’t follow any identifiable rules. So you just have to learn them as you go along. Since my first article about slang, I’ve learned a few more of these types. So I’ll pass them along to you.

Ndak = tidak
Duit = money
Kacau = mess
Pigi = go (formal language = pergi)
Siyok = shock
Ikan = meat (not fish as in formal Indonesian. This is from Javanese)
Duerius = double serious (dua + serius) – I laughed a long time when I learned this one! My friends explained you can make it tigerius (tiga + serius), emperius (empat + serius), etc.

Further Study?

There isn’t much written that is helpful for mastering Indonesian slang. So the best way to learn is exposure. Of course, the slang you learn will depend on where your Indonesian friends are from originally, or if you will be spending an extended amount of time in just one region of Indonesia.

But are you doomed to be shut out if you have only limited opportunity for exposure to Indonesian conversation? No, don’t fret. Even if your only exposure is through e-mail (Indo slang = imel), you can always ask for an explanation of what you don’t understand. Most Indonesians are happy to let you in on the secret. And once you start using some of the slang yourself, they will probably be delighted that you care enough to try to keep up with them in everyday language.

My hope is that this article will give you a bit of a head start and speed up the process a little. Below you’ll find a link to another article written by an Indonesian friend about slang particles. He wrote it in both Indonesian and English. The Indonesian version is loaded with slang, so it will be a good exercise for you to use what you've learned and then compare the translated English version (it is not exact).

There is also an article in Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia. One word of caution though, this article also include bahasa ‘kasar’ or rough language, such as vulgarities. I certainly don’t feel that type of language has any value for our purposes and the use of such language is not ever recommended.

Until next time…

Selamat belajar!

gabrielle
http://www.hello-indonesia.com/

More Information on Indonesian Slang:

Slang Particles in Indonesian

Wikipedia: Indonesian Slang Language

Huh? Is This Indonesian?

Putting It Together (Part II)

2006-02-09T22:53:00.000-05:00

Last time, we began laying the essential foundation for building solid Indonesian language skills by exploring some grammar basics. And the good news has been that Indonesian grammar is rather simple, as compared to other languages.

By learning the key components of Indonesian grammar, little by little, we can quickly build surprising proficiency in not only understanding, but also in speaking Indonesian well. Are you ready to learn a bit more?

When and how much. That is what we will discuss this time. So without further ado, let’s just jump into part II of our grammar adventure.

No Need to be Tense about Tense

In my efforts to convince you that Indonesian truly is an easy language, last time I told you that you will not have to worry about conjugating any verbs, which is usually one of the most confusing and biggest pains in the *%#$ for new language students. And I wasn’t lying! Indonesian verbs do not change their form based on when the action takes place (or who is doing it). You can actually use the same form of a verb when speaking about the past, present or future. Isn’t that a relief?

However, despite the fact that culturally, “rubber time” (jam karet) means that Indonesians are noticeably less tense (pun intended) about time than are most Westerners, in the Indonesian language, tense is still used to indicate timing. But it is not generally accomplished with verbs, but rather, indirectly by means of the context.

The timing, or tense, of an action is shown by auxiliary words that make it clear as to when an action takes place. We also do this in English. Notice the similarities in these side-by-side examples:

Saya pergi ke toko / I am going to the store. (present tense)

Saya sudah pergi ke toko / I already went to the store. (past tense)

Saya akan pergi ke toko / I will go to the store. (future tense)

Notice that in English, despite the “extra” words that obviously indicated past and future tenses, the verb has to change from “going” to “went” and finally to “go”. But the Indonesian equivalent, “pergi”, remained the same, and the tense was simply indicated by the helping words “sudah” (already) to indicate past tense and “akan” (will) to indicate future tense.

The way this works is so simple, you will find yourself doing it naturally, with very little effort. All you need to do is learn the most common timing words and how to use them. Here are some of the most common words that will get you going right away.

Present Tense Indicators

This is the easiest, since if no time-indicating words are used, it is assumed that the action is in the present tense.

Saya pergi ke toko. (I am going to the store.)

At times, however, you will want to make it absolutely clear that the action is being done in the present. These words will do the trick.

Sekarang = now
Example: Saya pergi ke toko sekarang.
(I am going to the store now.)

Sedang = in the process of
Example: Saya sedang pergi ke toko.
(I am in the process of going to the store.)

Masih = still
Example: Saya masih pergi ke toko.
(I am still going to the store.)

Future Tense Indicators

Akan = will
Example: Saya akan pergi ke toko.
(I will go to the store.)

Belum = not yet
Example: Saya belum pergi ke toko.
(I have not yet gone to the store.)

Nanti = later
Example: Saya pergi ke toko nanti.
(I will go to the store later.)

Mau = to want to
Example: Saya mau pergi ke toko.
(I want to go to the store.)

Besok = tomorrow
Example: Besok saya mau pergi ke toko.
(Tomorrow I want to go to the store.)

Past Tense Indicators

Sudah = already
Example: Saya sudah pergi ke toko.
(I already went to the store.)

Baru = new (just happened)
Example: Saya baru datang dari toko.
(I just came from the store.)

Kemarin = yesterday
Example: Kemarin saya pergi ke toko.
(Yesterday I went to the store.)

Ketika = when (indicating a past event)
Example: Ketika saya pergi ke toko, …
(When I went to the store, …)

How Many?

Something else blissfully easy about Indonesian grammar is the stark lack of plural nouns. They are rarely even necessary! Once again, context does most of the work for you. When you need to indicate a plural situation, there are a couple of ways to do it, and they are both easy!

1. As we just learned with tense, other words already included in a sentence generally make it obvious that you are talking about more than one of something.

For example:

Ada banyak mobil di lapangan parkir.
(There are many cars in the parking lot.)

Ada tiga mobil di lapangan parkir.
(There are three cars in the parking lot.)

As can be seen in the above two sentences, it is obvious that we are talking about more than one car (mobil) because we have used the words “banyak” (many) and “tiga” (three), respectively. There is no need to make the word “mobil” plural because it is obvious from the context and understood that we are talking about more than one.

There are occasionally times, however, when the other words, or the context, of a sentence do not indicate whether the noun is singular or plural (one or more than one). In that case, what can you do to indicate that there is more than one? You will laugh when you see how easy the answer is.

2. To indicate more than one when it is not clear by the context of a sentence, you simply use the word twice!

For example:

Mobil-mobil ada di lapangan parkir.
(There are cars in the parking lot.)

In informal writing, to shorten this a bit, the number “2” may be placed after the noun to indicate plural. So you could also see the above sentence written as follows:

Mobil2 ada di lapangan parkir.

You can even have fun with this little trick, as one Indonesian friend wrote me using:

Ha3 instead of writing out Hahaha!! :-)

Well, that’s all you need to know about plurals!! Wasn’t that easy?

Now you can congratulate yourself! You have just learned two invaluable building blocks of Indonesian grammar: How to indicate tense and how to indicate plural nouns. With these two, you can build sentences where you can talk about the present, past and future, as well as about one or many cars, dogs, children, books, or any other noun you can think of.

Why not take a few minutes right now and compose a few of your own sentences, using each of the tense-indicating words listed above. Throw in a few nouns too while you’re at it. Experiment with the sentences. Create a few where the nouns are obviously plural, as well as some where you will have to double the noun to make it clear that you are talking about more than one. We all learn best by doing, so go do some sentences!

With just these two rules of Indonesian grammar, you will be amazed at what you can say.

Next time, we’ll take a break from stuffy grammar. Instead, back by popular demand, I’m currently working on a follow-up article about everyday slang used by native Indonesian speakers.

Until then…

Selamat belajar,

gabrielle
www.hello-indonesia.com

Grammar in small doses can be extremely useful when you are first tackling a new language. These two books have proved invaluable to my own learning and are highly recommended.

Lonely Planet Indonesian Phrasebook

Everyday Indonesian

Putting It Together (Part I)

2006-01-13T21:15:00.000-05:00

A student can have a great set of vocabulary, and even use on-the-mark pronunciation, but let’s face it. A vital element of learning any new language well is getting a bit of solid grammar under one’s belt. But before you start groaning, there’s something you should know. Indonesian is refreshingly easy when it comes to grammar! In fact, one accomplished student of many languages (at last count, he’s up to 26!) once wrote regarding the Indonesian language:

“…let me hasten to point out that Indonesian is the easiest language in the world – no hedging, no ‘almost,’ no ‘among the easiest.’ In my experience, Indonesian is the easiest. The grammar is minimal, regular and simple.” – How To Learn Any Language Quickly, Easily, Inexpensively, Enjoyably, and On Your Own by Barry Farber

So how easy is Indonesian grammar really? With the next few articles, we will learn the essential grammar basics so you can begin building your own fully functional sentences immediately. Of course, we’ll not attempt to explore every nuance of Indonesian grammar at this stage. After all, this is a full-fledged language, and we are talking grammar here. Realistically though, it does take a fair amount of commitment, study and practice to truly master Indonesian (or any new language). However, learning grammar need not be a painfully complicated experience. To the contrary, learning Indonesian basics is refreshingly simple and truly quite easy to master, compared to other languages. So are you ready? Let’s go!

Verbs

Verbs are action words or “working words” (kata kerja). They are central to each sentence, and really, probably the most important part of the Indonesian language. They are also literally in the middle of sentence structure. A good general formula for building basic sentences is, subject + verb + object. This is quite similar to English. Here are some examples:

Saya suka kamu. (I like you.)
subject + verb + object

Kita ingin berbicara bahasa Indonesia dengan baik. (We wish to speak Indonesian well.)
Subject + verb + verb + object + adverb

Anak kecil itu punya senyum besar. (That small child has a big smile.)
Subject + adjective + verb + object + adjective

The most notable difference in syntax (word order) from English is that words that describe, such as adjectives (which describe people, places or things) or adverbs (which describe actions) are generally added after the words they complement.

To Be or Not To Be

In almost all situations, what we call in English the verb “to be” (is, am, are) is completely absent in Indonesian. It is not needed since it is simply understood by the context of the sentence.

Saya senang (I [am] happy.)

Dia cantik. (She [is] pretty.)

Mereka pergi ke toko. (They [are] going to [the] store.)

Indonesian does, however, have a word that means is/are. The word is adalah. It is commonly used simply for emphasis and is usually optional.

Djoko adalah guru yang pintar (Djoko is a skilled teacher.)

Allah adalah kasih. (God is love.)

Please note that when it is used, adalah only joins two nouns and is never used to join a noun with an adjective.

The Good News and The Bad News

Here’s some good news. You will never have to conjugate a verb in Indonesian! That is, the verbs do not need to be adjusted based on who is taking an action or when.

Example in English: root verb = write
Conjugations: write, writes, wrote, written, writing

This is truly good news for anyone who has even attempted to wrestle with trying to remember the many conjugations necessary for verbs in most European languages.

The bad news is that there are multiple affixes (letters added to the front, back, or both front and back of words) that are used to create different verb forms. November’s article, Oh My, What Big Words You Have! provides a basic explanation of how affixes work with both verbs and nouns. We will explore the most common affixes for Indonesian verbs and how to use them in future articles.

Now for some more good news! In everyday spoken Indonesian, these affixes are commonly dropped altogether. So as previously advised on this blog, learning root word verbs is a great way to start speaking Indonesian quickly (and correctly).

More bad news? We’ve arrived at the end of this article. So you’ll have to wait until next time to learn how easy it is to indicate timing (tense) and how to make words plural (more than one) in Indonesian.

In the meantime, why not put your current vocabulary to good use and practice using what we’ve learned together in this article. Begin making your own sentences with the basic subject + verb + object formula. By taking action now and putting it all together, you’ll be speaking Indonesian now. You will also be well on your way to building a strong foundation for true fluency with Indonesian, the easiest language to study! :-)

Until next time…..selamat belajar!

gabrielle
www.hello-indonesia.com

What? Can't wait to learn more grammar? Here is THE most comprehensive grammar book around for all your burning questions about Indonesian! ;-)

Native Sounds

2005-12-13T21:03:00.000-05:00

In my October article I suggested that you just jump in and get used to speaking Indonesian at every opportunity, even if that elicits giggles or a confused facial expression from your audience. Rapid progress is certainly the reward of those who don't take themselves too seriously.

But what I didn't tell you is, the real fun begins when you are able to turn the tables on your Indonesian listeners by concealing your (American, Australian, British, etc.) accent and speak as the natives do. Then you will be the one laughing at their reactions!

Learning to Play

Just as it can be difficult to understand someone attempting to speak English with a heavy foreign accent, it can be just as difficult for your Indonesian listeners to figure out what you are saying if your pronunciation is off the mark. To sound like a native you must make your mouth mimic Indonesian sounds. It's part physical and part mental.

Your mouth is in the habit of playing by the rules of English pronunciation. But Indonesian is a different game. Kind of like the difference between playing poker and whist. You use the same cards (letters), but the rules are different. Like any new game, it will take a bit of practice to pick up the new combinations. But the good news is, Indonesian has more consistency and fewer pronunciation rules than English does.

Let's review some of the most common accent giveaways for the English-speaking learner. Once you master these sounds, your Indonesian friends will have no trouble understanding you, and you may even fool them into thinking you are a full-fledged Indonesian when speaking over the phone!

Accent Busters

Vowels are often the chief trouble-makers when it comes to accent -- in ANY language. Indonesian is no exception. The following three vowels need your special attention since they don't play by the same rules as in English:

"a" ALWAYS has an "ah" sound as in "father" and NEVER a long "a" as in "pay".

Samples:

Apa kabar?
Selamat malam.
Siapa nama paman anda?
Dia akan datang kapan?

"e" usually has a short, almost grunt-like sound that is similar to the "a" in "along." If this is awkward or difficult for you to pronounce smoothly, there is a way that is kind of a cheat that will produce a close-to-authentic sound. Try pronouncing the word as though the "e" didn't exist at all!

Samples:

Selamat can be pronounced: "Slamat"
Gelap can be pronounced: "Glap"
Semua can be pronounced: "Smooa"

Now, I said this is usually the way an "e" is pronounced, but not always. (Hey, you can speak English, so you should be used to exceptions to the rule!)

The "e" is at times also pronounced like the short "e" in "peck" or even like the long "a" sound in "say". Sometimes this shows up at the end of a word, or whenever the syllable is slightly emphasized. There is no real rule about this, so you'll have to play it by ear and notice when it seems the natural way to go in conversation.

Samples:

Gereja dia yang di desa, itu berbeda dengan gereja saya.
Sore ini, mereka boleh minum teh jahe yang enak.

"i" is always pronounced as a long "ee" as in "meet." This is the same as in many other languages. Though it may seem like a slight difference, if you get it right, it will go a long way in giving you an authentic sound.

Samples:

Dia tidak mau ikut ke bioskop dengan kita.
Pasti mereka bahagia pada hari pernikahan, sebab akhirnya mereka menjadi suami istri.
Laki-lakinya sedih karena dia sendirian.

Consonants Anyone?

There are a few non-vowels that can present a formidable challenge to hiding a glaring accent. Be on the lookout for these two because they show up everywhere.

"c" is always pronounced like the "ch" in "chip".

Samples:

Cewek cantik itu capek karena dia sudah lama cari cowok cakap.

"ng" is a combined sound such as in "lung." Use the back of your throat WITHOUT the hard "g" sound, such as in "singing."

Samples:

Dewi sering kali senang mengunjungi neneknya karena dia bisa berenang di sungai dekat rumah neneknya.

Once you have mastered these key Indonesian pronunciation skills, you might want to tackle the rest of the troublemakers found in Pronunciation Pointers, my free pronunciation guide which can be viewed online or saved on your computer as a PDF file for future reference.

Of course, the best way to perfect your pronunciation is to have regular exposure to native speakers. You can get such exposure with language recordings, radio broadcasts or live conversations with an Indonesian person.

When listening to spoken language, pay close attention to how they say what they say, and imitate what you hear. Whenever possible, continually repeat, dissect and exaggerate the sounds that you find especially difficult. Even if you are shy, you can record yourself in private and listen to how you sound, comparing your pronunciation with the way native Indonesian is spoken. Practice over and over until your words begin to "sound right."

With a little consistent effort and practice, you will be amazed at your progress. But the real pay-off comes when you can just smile as surprised Indonesian people begin asking you, "How long did you live in Indonesia?"

Selamat belajar!

gabrielle
www.hello-indonesia.com

Oh my, what big WORDS you have!

2005-11-22T21:08:00.000-05:00

Many students of Indonesian are rather intimidated when they first see the marathon words that can be found in the written language. But it's not as difficult as it looks. Really!

I've often compared Indonesian to medical terminology, which is also known for its words of many letters. But like medical terminology, once you learn to identify the different pieces that are strung together, you will easily be able to impress your friends with sophisticated sounding lingo. The best part is you'll actually understand what you are saying, so the words won't be so hard to remember either! Let's explore how Indonesian word formation usually works.

The Root of the Matter

Root words are the first part of the equation. Most root words in Indonesian are actually quite short, maybe one, two, or at most, three syllables. Then prefixes (something fixed to the front of the word) and suffixes (something fixed to the end of a word) are added to the root words, sometimes several times over, to form new verbs and nouns. These are what can cause words to quickly grow to monstrous proportions. However, we actually do something rather similar in English too.

Let's look at an English example of this basic process first, just to make the concept seem more friendly. Take the word uncompromisingly. Now to a person who can't speak English, that looks like a pretty big word. It doesn't really scare us though because we recognize right away that the root word is compromise. Once you understand the root word and what each of the other components mean, it is usually easy to understand the new word.

root: compromise = to give in, meet half-way
un- = not
-ing = in the process of doing something
-ly = makes it an adverb, which describes a verb (action)
uncompromisingly = describing an action that is in the process of not giving in

Indonesian is similar, but even better (in my opinion). Many of the root words are much smaller than the word in our example. The prefixes and suffixes are easily recognized, since they play a major role in the Indonesian language and are therefore used constantly. Let's look at an example to demonstrate how once you know a simple root word, as well as some of the most common prefixes and suffixes, you can grow your vocabulary practically overnight!

kata dasar = root word = tulis = write
Add the prefix pe- = penulis = writer
Add the prefix ter- = tertulis = to be written
Add the prefix me- = menulis = to write
Add the prefix ber- = bertulis = to be written on
Add the suffix -an = tulisan = something written

There are also combinations of prefixes and suffixes used together:

Add me- kan = menuliskan = to write something down; use something to write with
Add pe- an = penulisan = process of writing

Look at all the words you can get from just one little root word when you start adding decorations to the front and back of it! Affixes, as they are called, are quite numerous in Indonesian. The example above is only a sampling of some of the popular combinations. There are quite a few more that are not even listed here!

Doing the Two-Step

The easiest way to learn the dance with affixes is by doing the two-step. That is, learning how to attach these prefixes and suffixes yourself.

1. Get some practice at learning to identify root words so you can look them up in your dictionary and learn their basic meaning. This is probably most easily done by getting some experience with informal language. In spoken Indonesian, often prefixes and suffixes are dropped, and only the root words are used.

If, however, you are not in a situation where you would hear much Indonesian spoken by native speakers, you can also use an online dictionary such as KEBI when you come across any new words. It lists the root word to practically any word you type in. This too will give you some exposure to all the different affixes and their meanings as applied to the root word under examination.

2. Learn the mechanical rules for how to add the various affixes to root words, and how they change the meaning of the word. This is best done one affix (or prefix-suffix combo) at a time so that you can learn through practice and repetition. In time, you won't have to think much about it and you will just know intuitively how to do it.

In future Kelas Bahasa articles we will discuss some of the most common affixes and how to use them. Until then, don't let any of those big, bad Indonesian words scare you. They are just harmless little root words with prefixes and suffixes dangling off of them.

Until next time...selamat belajar!

gabrielle
www.hello-indonesia.com

Just Say It!

2005-10-25T21:20:00.000-04:00

What is one of the most difficult challenges when learning Indonesian as a new language?

In a word: FEAR

Taking the leap from passively listening to someone else speak Indonesian, to actually diving right in and speaking the language yourself is the biggest hurdle for many. Instead, most everyone will quickly offer a slew of excuses for holding back.

“I don’t know enough grammar yet.”
“I don’t know enough vocabulary yet.”
“My mouth can’t make those sounds!”

But the biggest one is…

“I don’t want to say it wrong and sound stupid.”

I’ve got news for you. You WILL make mistakes and quite likely at times your listeners will even laugh when there is a humorous mix-up. (Like mistaking the word kelapa for the word kepala!)

Here’s a suggestion: Simply decide to join in the fun and laugh right along with them! Your adventures in learning to speak Indonesian will turn into funny stories that you will probably use to entertain your children (or grandchildren) long after you have achieved complete fluency in the language.

By being willing to have some fun and not take yourself too seriously, you will drastically speed up your language learning and proficiency.

Learning to speak Indonesian is a journey, so why not choose to enjoy the ride?

The following are some suggestions for speaking Indonesian as soon as possible:

Get a good language instruction book (with audio tapes or CDs if possible) and be determined to use it on a regular basis.

Audio recordings of native speakers are highly recommended since you can imitate correct pronunciation right from the start. Listen and then repeat what you hear until the words sound “normal” to you. There is nothing worse than learning to pronounce commonly used words incorrectly only to try to correct your pronunciation later. I know, I’ve been there.

Passive exposure to Indonesian through online radio stations and Indonesian music CDs will also naturally help to improve your pronunciation, as long as you try to sing along or say out loud some of the words you hear repeatedly.

Get a good dictionary and use it often. It is a true staple to understanding and increasing vocabulary, one word at a time. (You want both directions: English - Indonesian AND Indonesian - English.)

Read Indonesian out loud as often as possible. It is easy to find reading material on Indonesian websites. If you want to start on a more basic level, there are some websites, as well as a few books available for regular and progressive reading to give your pronunciation muscles a workout on a consistent basis.

Use what you learn right away! Even if that means you have to use "Indoglish"!! That is, use the Indonesian words you already know to form sentences. Whenever you don't know the right word in Indonesian, just fill it in with an English word. (Then look up the missing words in your dictionary, write them down and add them to your new vocabulary list!)

But the best way to really use your new skills is to find a native speaker to converse with. Ideally, you want to be talking out loud, but even regularly expressing yourself in Indonesian via e-mail will help you improve tremendously, especially if your audience is willing to correct your mistakes and is himself/herself a good speaker. Take the initiative and do some networking. You will probably be surprised to find that you will have little trouble finding someone to talk to in Indonesian.

Be absolutely determined to spend at least 10-15 minutes doing something to learn and speak Indonesian every day! Nothing will speed up your progress more than exposing yourself to hearing and speaking Indonesian on a regular basis.

Don’t fall into the trap of haphazardly spending long hours studying once in a while. That method produces little success and is very frustrating. Why torture yourself? Do it the easy way and don’t fry your brains – schedule at least 10 minutes a day, every day, for working on your Indonesian!

There is no other feeling like the joy that bubbles up when you almost magically start to understand, speak and even think in Indonesian for the first time. And after you are able to “get by” in Indonesian, you’ll also realize there is so much more to learn. But the hard part is over.

From there, it will be a delight to discover idiomatic expressions and almost intuitively you’ll begin to understand the attitudes and culture of your Indonesian friends at a deeper level. In time you will start to be able to really express yourself in your new language. You will build a connection that is the privilege few Westerners can enjoy. In the process, you will likely touch the hearts of your Indonesian friends as well.

It all starts with being willing to blurt out a few words a day, and maybe have a few laughs in the process.

So what are you waiting for? Just say it in Indonesian!!

Mulailah hari ini!!

Selamat belajar,

gabrielle

Nya, nya, nya

2005-09-13T21:27:00.000-04:00

Have you seen it yet? Oh boy. And you thought Indonesian was an easy language. It seems just when you’ve finally got a few useful words down pat, it happens.

That pesky little suffix known as –nya shows up, dangling off the back of a perfectly good word that you had begun to view as a trusted friend, only to obscure its once-familiar meaning and render the word virtually unpronounceable. (Is that even a word? See what happens when I get riled up!) What is this thing doing in the Indonesian language anyway? It sounds like it belongs somewhere in the outcast regions of Russia!

Okay, before I start a linguistic revolt here, let’s take a few minutes to see if this not-so-welcomed freeloader has any redeeming qualities. I suppose it may be helpful to remember that, like some people I know, a less-than-great first impression doesn’t mean you won’t eventually come to love its good qualities.

The suffix –nya has basically two functions when it is added alone to the end of a noun (person, place or thing).

Possession

You probably already know the possessive pronouns in Indonesian, such as dia (his / her) and mereka (their). Though the word order is reversed in Indonesian (object first, then who owns it), they are used to denote possession as in English, such as…

Where is her child?
Di mana anak dia? (lit. child her)

Their class has ended.
Kelas mereka sudah selesai. (lit. class their)

But you will commonly hear statements like these shortened, with the suffix –nya taking over the job of indicating possession, such as…

Di mana anaknya?

Kelasnya sudah selesai.

But there’s a twist. Not only is –nya a possessive little bugger, but it’s picky too! It can only be used to indicate possession when saying the equivalent of ‘his’, ‘hers’, ‘theirs’ or ‘its’ and never when saying the equivalent of ‘my’, ‘mine’, ‘yours’ or ‘our’. (Just remember, it doesn’t like you or me or anything that belongs to us!!)

As a Definite Article

In English, we use the word ‘the’ to indicate something specific. It is known as a definite article.

The suffix –nya can be used at times in the same way as the word ‘the’ when talking about a specific object, usually one that has already come to the attention of the listener earlier in the conversation. For example:

Aku mau beli mobil yang baru.
I want to buy a new car.

Kapan kamu mau beli mobilnya?
When do you want to buy the car?

So in a nutshell, -nya simply indicates possession or refers to a specific object already under discussion.

The only complaint remaining is the ridiculous sound –nya expects us to make when attempting to pronounce it. Admittedly, this is not an easy letter combination for a Western palate. But just think about your nagging boss, or maybe even your spouse, when you are yes-ing him and/or her to get off your back….nya, nya, nya.

With a little time and practice, this suffix might just not be such a nuisance after all. ;-)

Until next time…

Selamat belajar!

gabrielle
www.hello-indonesia.com

Everyday Indonesian - This is a good cut-to-the-chase, non-technical book for those who want to understand basic Indonesian grammar and start using it right away. It also has good information for understanding Indonesian people and their culture, not just the language. I refer to this book often and I think you will too.
Lonely Planet Indonesian Phrasebook - This is my absolute favorite phrasebook. There is a LOT of great information packed into this little pocket-size book; way more than just useful phrases. There are entertaining cultural tidbits, as well as invaluable tips sprinkled throughout in an easy-to-read style. The grammar section is also a great foundation for those who want to learn the language and attain fluency. Highly recommended.

Huh? Is This Indonesian?

2005-08-23T21:27:00.000-04:00

"Dengerin gue..."

"Apa sih?"

"Gue mau ngomong nih."

"Hah, nggak ngerti. Ngomong apa sih lu? Jangan ngomong kaya gitu!"

"Aduh! Lu ngerti dan ngomong kaya gitu juga, kan?

"Pasti dong! Tapi nggak sekarang. Murid2 bahasa Indonesia aja nggak ngerti logat Jakarta kok."

"Oh iya, gue lupa. Oke deh. Ayo ngobrol nanti, ya?"

"Yuk."

Hearing a casual conversation like this would leave most learners of the Indonesian language thoroughly bewildered and wondering whether a major chapter of their language textbook hadn't in fact been ripped out when they weren't looking.

Welcome to the very real world of slang. Every language has it, and Indonesian is no exception. The most widely used Indonesian slang comes from Jakarta. The problem is that this essential colloquial language is omitted from almost all Indonesian learning books and programs. But if your Indonesian friends are from the island of Java, and most especially from the capital city of Jakarta, you will hear this strange chatter on a regular basis. So let's take a few minutes to crack the code and attempt to expose the true meaning of Indonesian slang, shall we?

"Gua or gue" and "lu" are popular slang forms of "me" and "you." Below is the progression from English, to very formal, to polite, to informal, and finally to Jakartaese.

I/me = saya = aku (or just "ku") = gua / gue

You = Ibu (or just "Bu") / Bapak (or just "Pak") = Anda = kamu (or just "mu") = lu

Other Jakarta slang words, many of which are included in the sample dialog above, are listed below, along with their relative meanings (though many are rather difficult to actually define)

aduh! = an exclamatory remark, often in a negative situation.

aja = saja = even, just, only

ayo = "Come on!" or "Good-bye."

deh = "Oh, all right" or "come on, please do"; may also be used like a word whisker at the end of a statement

dong = (1) "Of course!" (particle asserting that one should already know or do something); (2) used to soften a prohibition

gede = big, large

gini = begini = like this

gitu = begitu = like that

hah = an expression of wondering

kan? = bukan = is it not?

kaya = as, like (also written as "kayak") -- Note: when used as a non-slang word, "kaya" means rich, wealthy

kok = (1) "Why?" or "How come?" (when placed at the beginning of a phrase); (2) denial of a presumption or statement (when placed at the end of a phrase)

lho = (1) exclamation of surprise at learning something; (2) "you know?" (as confirmation of a statement or like the word whisker teenagers often use in English)

nah = (1) "See!" (particle implying acceptance of advice or opinion); (2) "Now then" or "Well" (particle introducing a new topic or a sentence used to conclude a conversation)

ngerti = mengerti = to understand

nggak = tidak = no / not (also written as "ga", "gak", "ngga", "enggak")

ngobrol = obrol = to chat

ngomong = omong = talk, chat

nih = this, here (particle pointing to something nearby)

nih? = "Are you sure?" or "Is it/are you not?" (requesting confirmation of something)

oh iya = "Oh yes, ...." (as though an afterthought. Just think of the TV detective, Columbo!)

oke = okay = OK

sih = (1) particle used to soften questions; (2) particle used to mark a topic; (3) "You know!" (like the word whisker teenagers often use in English)

udah = sudah = already

wah! = exclamatory remark (similar to "Wow!")

ya? = yes? / okay?

yuk = same meaning as "ayo"

Cracking the Code

Okay, let's revisit that mysterious gibberish from the outset of our discussion and see if we can't decode what is going on here.

"Dengerin gua..."
Listen to me....

"Apa sih?"
What is it?

"Gue mau ngomong nih."
I want to talk with you.

"Hah, nggak ngerti. Ngomong apa sih lu? Jangan ngomong kaya gitu!"
Hey, I don't understand. What are you saying? Don't talk like that!

"Aduh! Lu ngerti dan ngomong kaya gitu juga, kan?"
Oh my! You understand and talk like that too, don't you?

"Pasti dong! Tapi nggak sekarang. Murid2 bahasa Indonesia aja nggak ngerti logat Jakarta kok."
Of course! But not now. Indonesian language students won't understand Jakarta slang!

"Oh iya, gue lupa. Oke deh. Ayo ngobrol nanti, ya?"
Oh yeah, I forgot. Okay. We'll talk later, all right?

"Yuk."
Later.

This is not an exact translation, but the gist of the conversation.

As with any slang, true understanding comes by osmosis....or simply exposure to it over time. When you hear it, just try to get the general idea of what is going on. You will start to pick it up after a while. And don't be surprised if you start using it yourself!

Until then, whenever you encounter your slang-speaking Indonesian friends unintelligibly chattering, the books reviewed below are enlightening references that include most common Indonesian slang.

That's the lesson for this time. So....

Selamat belajar deh! ;-)

gabrielle
www.hello-indonesia.com

Kamus Indonesia Inggris -- An Indonesian-English Dictionary
This is a comprehensive dictionary that includes most slang and colloquial expressions. It is the gold standard in Australian schools that teach the Indonesian language. You may also want to check out its companion volume, Kamus Inggris Indonesia.
Making Out in Indonesian
Even though we don't recommend that you actually use many of the phrases in this rather crude little book, it is useful as a basic reference guide to a lot of Indonesian slang. We also found that it contains some minor errors in the information provided, but it is so inexpensive that it is truly worth having it on your shelf.

Let the Lessons Begin!

2005-07-20T13:43:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the first lesson of our new virtual classroom here at Kelas Bahasa!

My aim is to bring to you, at least twice per month, a new mini-lesson that you can use immediately to improve and progress with your learning and fluency in the Indonesian language. Are you ready? Let's go!

To Be or Not To Be

One of the great grammatical features of the Indonesian language that makes it easy, or at least easier than most other languages, is that there is no form of “to be.” Instead, it is usually understood by the context of what is being said. For example:

I am happy. = Saya senang. (Literally, “I happy”)

An equivalent to “am” is simply not necessary in Indonesian.

However, there are occasions when the equivalent of the word “is” or “there is/are” is in fact used. That is the topic for today’s discussion.

Ada

It is most helpful to remember that the translation for “ada” is “there are” or “there is” rather than just “is.” It will help to keep you out of trouble, since "ada" is a versatile word that really has a range of meanings depending on how it is used, as we will see. It is therefore very useful to get acquainted with how it is commonly used in everyday speech.

So if you were going to ask if there is any nasi goreng (fried rice) on the menu at the local warung, (diner) you would say:

“Apakah ada nasi goreng hari ini?” Or simply, “Ada nasi goreng?”

Another example might be when making a telephone call and asking if the person you wish to speak to is available:

“Lina ada di rumah?” (Is Lina at home?)

The answer might simply come back:

“Ada.” (Yes, she is.) or “Tidak ada.” (No, she’s not.)

Awas! The opposite of "ada" is "tidak ada." You would never say, "ada tidak."

Or you may be provided with more detailed information, such as:

“Lina ada di kamar mandi.” (Lina is in the bathroom.)

Perhatian: In this instance, the word "ada" is actually optional, since you might also hear, "Lina di kamar mandi."

You may have noted in the above example that "ada" can also have the meaning of being present or at a location.

Just one more twist to this word. At times, “ada” can also have the meaning “to have.”

Ibu ada berapa anak? (How many children do you have?)

Saya ada tiga anak. (I have three children.)

There are a few other words that convey the meaning “to have” as well. But that is a topic for another time. For now, look for ways to practice using the word “ada” to indicate there is, there are, to have, located at, or to be present.

Another way to get to know "ada" better is by fiddling with the sentences you create. Try omitting it altogether. See if the sentence still makes sense without using "ada." By doing so you will gain an intuitive feeling for when it is optional and when it should be used.

That's the scoop on "ada." Your questions, comments, complaints, further enlightenment or discussion regarding this intriguing little word are invited!

Sampai kita belajar bersama-sama sekali lagi...

gabrielle
www.hello-indonesia.com

Kosa Kata Baru (new vocabulary)

hari ini = today
perhatian = notice
awas! = caution!
kamar = room
mandi = bath or bathe
kamar mandi = bathroom or room where one bathes
kecil = small or little
kamar kecil = restroom, toilet
sampai = until
kita = we, inclusive of the person you are speaking to
belajar = to study, to learn
bersama-sama = together
sekali = one time
lagi = again

P.S. Do you know someone else who is interested in learning to speak Indonesian? Click on the little envelope at the bottom right corner of this message and tell them about Kelas Bahasa, where the learning never ends.

Welcome to Class!

2005-07-05T17:58:00.000-04:00

Selamat datang ke Kelas Bahasa!!

I'm so excited to welcome you to our newest learning feature here at Hello-Indonesia.com. This new web log, or blog, as it is called, will serve as our interactive language classroom.

Kelas Bahasa picks up where our e-mail language course leaves off. It is designed for continued learning and improvement of your bahasa Indonesia language skills, using an easy, convenient and consistent bit-by-bit method that will give you amazing results in just a short period of time.

I plan to post a new learning article at least twice per month and you are encouraged to participate and comment (using either Indonesian or English) as much as you like. Feel free to ask any questions so that we can all learn together, just like in any classroom. We will even have native Indonesian speakers available to give us the inside scoop on how Indonesian people themselves speak their language every day. No stiff, overly formal book-like way of learning for us! ;-)

You will be notified whenever a new article has been posted if you signed up for membership in Kelas Bahasa! If you haven't done so already, sign up now so you won't miss a beat.

Watch your e-mail because class will soon begin. Hope you will join us!

Salam,

gabrielle

P.S. Do you know someone else who is interested in learning to speak Indonesian? Click on the little envelope at the bottom right corner of this message and tell them about Kelas Bahasa!