MASSING KONSEP

teaching culture through language

Teaching Culture Through Language:

David Reeve

Department of Chinese and Indonesian,

School of Modern Language Studies,

University of New South Wales,

Sydney, Australia

Introduction:

We all agree that it is very important to teach about Indonesian culture as well as language, but we never seem to be sure about how to do it. In the past we had reading passages about 'Borobudur', 'Keris', 'Tarian Bali', 'Ken Arok' etc, but students found them rather boring. They were boring. They lacked linguistic interest. And now we have also moved much further away from Reading as a core activity, with much more emphasis on Speaking and Listening.

We should try to find the culture IN the language. We all believe that the culture is in the language but we have not yet developed a systematic way of showing that culture. I think that together we can work out lists, then systematic statements of cultural aspects that can be easily found in the language, and that can be included in language teaching. Forms of address can be linked to deference, respect and the concept of the family (and extended into politics). The teaching of the meaning of names is highly interesting, but almost never taught. We can do a lot with people's names and the names of cities and their acronyms. Body language is important too. Proverbs should be reintegrated for the higher levels. This paper will discuss some names, some acronyms, body language and proverbs, as a start on finding ways to draw culture of out language, and stop trying to force culture in to the language.

___________________

Section 1. Indonesian terms for 'you':

George Quinn's recent Learners' Dictionary (pp502-504) gives '24 of the most commonly used forms' of "you" - many of them are family terms. His list of 24 is

Personal name Abang Anak Anda

Ayah Bapak Bibi engkau

Ibu Kakak Kakek kalian

kamu lu Nyonya Nenek

Nona -nya Om Paman

Saudara situ Tante Tuan.

Of his 24, 13 include 'family' terms of address. This becomes 15 if we add the very common Mas and Mbak. I think we can make a point that forms of address in Indonesian commonly speak as if the person spoken to is a member of the family.

Such a linguistic issue can then be extended outwards through various points about 'family' in Indonesia: the importance of the family in Indonesian life, the roles of the mother, father and children, the derivation of the word 'family' (Sanskrit - kawulo-warga), the role of the family in businesses, the role of the family in politics, the idea of the company or branch or school or university as a big family, the nation as a family. The notion of 'kekeluargaan' has had a role in Indonesian political thinking since at least the 1920s. The economy of Indonesia is supposed to be based on 'kekeluargaan', according to pasal 33 of the UUD45. The concept of 'kekeluargaan' has been used by national figures including Ki Hadjar DewantaraD, Sukarno, Supomo, Hatta, and Suharto. There is always the discussion about 'whose family?'.

Section 2. Names:

I am always struck by the fact that every Indonesian newspaper is filled with Indonesian names. And each name seems to reveal something about the background of the person named. Such a lot of effort goes into choosing names for children, and books about names in Indonesia were an increasing phenomenon in the 1990s. If an Indonesian looks at a list of names of people who will attend a meeting, for example, and the list contains the following names:

Agus Supriyanto Putu Kompiang, Dadang,

Mulya Lubis, Chaniago Bobby Setiawan -

then the Indonesian reader will already have a certain set of information or predispositions about the people involved. But it takes the foreigner years to build up any sort of familiarity with the information coded into these names. So I have summarised below some preliminary information I have drawn together, about some of the sorts of names met with in Indonesia. these provide a fascinating basis for weaving into classroom teaching

2.1. Balinese names:

a. Ranking by birth:

1. Gede, Wayan, Putu, Iluh (perempuan)

2. Made, Kadek

3. Nyoman, Komang

4. Ketut.

Then start over again, for 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th child, then start again for the 9^th.

b. Names associated with caste:

Information from:

Brahmana: (High Priests &  Religious) Men addressed as Ida Bagus Women addressed as Ida Ayu or Dayu (shortening).

Satria: (Descendants of warriors or  rulers) Variable depending on the family. Male names can begin with: Cokorda Gede, Cockorda, Anak Agung, Dewa, Dewa Agung, Ratu, Tjokorde, or Prebagus. Female names can begin with: Dewa Ayu, Anak  Agung istri, or Tjokorde istri. An example: Dewa Gede Putu: Dewa is the title, Gede is an honorary prefix meaning great, and Putu denotes first born.

Wesia: (Administrators, Merchants, economist class) Male names begin with Gusti or Dewa(Overlap with Satria class) Female names begin with I Gusti Ayu or Desak. Group names are also important to this class an example is the Arya descended from Raja.

Saudra: (Lower Class) 90% of population adopt the 4 name roundabout  naming system described above. These names are prefixed with either 'I' for males or 'Ni' for females. Under the old system it is the Sudra's duty to labour for the three upper classes

2.2. Javanese names:

Typical pattern: Su…(o)..o  (Sukarno, Suharto, Sutrisno, Sudomo, Surono, Sugiharto);Kartini/Kartono, Martini/Martono.

2.2.1. By ranking of birth (Sanskrit/Kawi?):

Eko (satu) Eko Sumarwan, Eko Mardiyanto, Eko Purwanto

Eko Wardiyati, Ekowati, Dyah Ekorini

Dwi (dua) Dwi Hatmoko, Joko Dwiyanto, Dwijo Suranto

Dwi Kusumowati, Endang Dwiningsih, Dwiyani

Tri (tiga) Triwibowo, Triman, Agus Trisasongko

Trisedyo, Triwulandari, Eni Triningsih

Catur (empat) Catur Adiprabowo, Catur Atmojo, Moh. Catur Wiseso

Catur Astuti, Dyah Catur Wanito, Caturtyastuti

Panca (lima) Poncogimo, Poncosutowo, Poncoyono

Endang Poncorini, Poncowati, Poncowarni

Sad (enam) Sadirin, Sadimin, Sadmoko

Sapto (tujuh) Sapto Raharjo, Sapto Hudoyo, Agus saptono

Saptaningsih, Saptaningrum, Wiwik Saptorini

Hasto (delapan) Hastomo Arbi, Hasto Widagdo

Nowo (sembilan) Nowo Murtiyanto

Doso (sepuluh) Doso.

2.2.2. By Javanese day (pasaran):

1. Legi Legiman, Bogi, Misgiwati

2. Pahing

3. Pon Poniman, Ponirin, Mispon

4. Wage R. Wage Supratman, Wagimin

5. Kliwon Pak Kliwon, Tukliwon

2.2.3. By Month/Special period?

Januar Pebrianti Agus/Agustina

Pascalis Kartini Ramadan

2.2.4. By special event around the birth:

Centrisia - born in a Centris taxi

Pestiati - saved from the plague (pes)

Irianto - father took part in the struggle for Irian

Subiakto - father served in Biak

2.2.5. Other positive themes - great, fragrant, good character:

*** light/sun/moon/stars:

Nur Cahyo/Cahyono Fajar

Suryo Baskoro Purnama/Purnomo

Sasongko Bintang Kartika

Kirana (Wahyu) Wulan

**** greatness:

Mulyo/Mulyono/Mulyadi Jaya/Joyo Hadi

**** praise, blessings:

Puji/Muji Astuti Nugroho

**** fragrant,  flowers:

Arum Ningrum Kusumo

Puspa/Puspita Kumala Padma

Mawar Melati

**** jewels, wealth:

Ratna Intan Kencana

Dana Sugih

**** good aspects of character:

Budi Guna Bagyo/Bejo

Darsono (teladan) Selamat/Sugeng Waras/Saras

Waluyo Basuki Harja

Widodo Wibowo Susilo

Setia/Setyo Mitra/Mitro Untung

Adi/Hadi Arif/Arief (bhs Arab) Wicaksono

Kis (tampan/cantik)

**** gods & goddesses:

Dewo Dewobroto, Dewo Bramantyo, Dewantoro

Dewi Dewi Saraswati, Dewayani, Dewi Puspa

Indra Indra Rukmana, Indra Safera, Indrawati, Hendro raharjo

Sri (Dewi padi) Sri Mulatsih, Sri Ambarwati, Sri Mulyani

Bayu Bayu Nugroho, Bayu Sukarno, Bayuningsih

Baroto Edi Baroto, Tribaroto

Wisnu Wisnu Wardhana, Wisnu Tri Raharjo, Wisnawan

Utari Utari Nor Permadi, Endang Utari

2.2.6. aspects of nature:

Ardi (gunung) Ardiyanto, Agus Ardi Winarto, Ardiman

Taufan (angin ribut) Taufan Sukarno Putro, Heri Taufan

Guntur Guntur Sukarno Putro

Guruh Guruh Sukarno Putro

Mega (awan) Megawati

Bayu (angin) Bayu Aji, Bayu Sukarno Putro

Samodro (laut) Budi Samodro, Agung Samodro

Tirta (air) Tirtasari, Tirtawati, Tirtayasa

Pertiwi (bumi/tanah) Pertiwisari, Endang Pertiwi

Wulan (bulan) Wulandari, Wulansari, Endang Wulansih

2.2.7. tokoh wayang:

Nama Tokoh Contoh Nama

Arjuno/Permadi Herjono, Bambang Permadi

Bimo Bimo Putranto, Agus Bimo, Bimo Prasetyo

Ismoyo/Semar Ismoyo, Ismiyati

Karno Sukarno, Sukarni

Endang Endang Pergiwo, Endang Sasmito

Gunawan Wibisono Gunawan Wibisono

Sudewo Eri Sudewo, Ari Sudewo

Hanoman/Himawan Himawan, Himawati

Gatotkaca Moses Gatotkaca, Gatot Prakosa

Lesmono Indra Lesmana, Bambang Lesmono

2.3. Arabic names:

2.3.1. Biasanya menggunakan bentuk ... din yang berarti agama (Islam) dan digunakan untuk orang laki-laki

Contoh: Syarifudin Baharudin Zainudin

Samsudin Maludin Akhirudin

Khomarudin Jasrudin Wahidin

2.3.2. Menggunakan bentuk ... tun atau ... un, banyak dipakai untuk nama perempuan

Contoh: Maryatun Solihatun Halimatun

Wardiyatun Rubiatun

   Tetapi dapat juga digunakan untuk nama laki-laki

Contoh: Darajatun Samaíun

Salamun Samiíun

2.3.3. Menggunakan bentuk ... yah atau ... ah, yang biasanya digunakan untuk nama perempuan

Contoh: Hidayah Rukiyah Bandiyah

Saodah Markonah Marfuah

Wardah Maemunah Solihah

2.3.4. Menggunakan bentuk ...... bin..... yang berarti anak laki-laki dari, atau

bentuk .... binti ....., yang berarti anak perempuan dari

Contoh: Anas bin Zamroni ,  berarti Anas anak laki-laki dari Zamroni

Wardah binti Abdul Hamid , berarti Wardah anak perempuan dari Abdul Hamid

2.3.5. Menggunakan sifat nama Allah (Asmaíul Al Husna). Untuk penggunaan nama diri diwajibkan menggunakan kata Abdu (hamba). Dalam penulisannya kata Abdu dapat berubah menjadi Abdur, Abdus atau Abdul.

Contoh: Abdur Rahman (penyayang) Abdur Rahim (pengasih)

Abdul Malik (raja) Abdul Salam (penyelamat)

Abdul Azis (Mulia) Abdul Jabar (perkasa)

Abdul ghaffar (pengampun) Abdul khaliq (pencipta)

Abdul Khahar (perkasa) Abdul Majid (pemurah)

Abudl kadir (kuasa) Abdul gani (kaya)

Abdul Rasyid (petunjuk)

2.3.6. Menggunakan nama Malaikat

Contoh: Ridwan Malik

2.3.7. Menggunakan nama para Nabi, selain Muhammad

Contoh: Adam Idris Saleh

Ibrahim Ismail Iskak

Yakub Yusuf Ayub

Sueb Harun Zulkifli

Sulaiman Ilyas Yunus

Zakaria Yahya

2.3.8. Menggunakan Nama Nabi Muhammad SAW. Selain ditulis lengkap, penulisannya kadang-kadang disingkat menjadi Muh, Moch., atau Mohd.

Contoh: Muhammad Daldiri Muhammad Subki

Muh. Djamari Muh Zakir

Mohd. Sofyan Mohd. Khairudin

2.3.9. Menggunakan nama istri-istri Nabi Muhammad SAW

Contoh: Khadijah Saodah Aisyah

Zainab Salamah Juwairiyah

Safiyah Umi habibah Mariyatul

2.3.10. Menggunakan nama kerabat Nabi Muhammad SAW

Contoh: Abdullah Qosim/Khosim Ruqayah

Umi Kulsum Fatimah

2.3.11.

Menggunakan nama empat sahabat /pembantu dekat Nabi Muhammad SAW

Contoh: Abubakar Umar

Usman Ali

2.3.12. Menggunakan nama-nama penyusun Hadits Nabi

Contoh: Hasran Basri Abu Said Al Kudri Abu Darda

Buchari Turmudzi

2.3.13. Menggunakan Nama hari Kelahiran

Contoh: Al Isnain (hari senin) Muh. Isnaini

As Salasa (hari Selasa) Nasir Salasa

Arbain (hari Rabu) Arbain Rambe, Arbi sanit

2.3.14. Menggunakan nama Bulan Kelahiran

Contoh: Muharrom Muharom Rusdiana

Syaíban Syaíbani

Syawal Syawaludin

Maulid Maulida

2.3.15. Menggunakan nama benda-benda alam

Contoh: Qomar (bulan) Qomarudin, Qomariyah

Syamí (matahari) Syamsinah, Syamsulbahri, Syamsudin

Bahrun (laut) Bahrun, Moh. Bahrun

Nur (cahaya) Nuraini, Nurdin

Badrun (bulan purnama) Badrunnisa, Muh. Badrun

2.3.16. Menggunakan kata-kata dari bahasa Arab yang mempunyai makna tertentu.

Abidin = abadi Adabi = beradab

Ahmad = terpuji Amin = dapat dipercaya

Amir = pemimpin Anas = manusia

Anisa = wanita Ansor = pasukan yang membantu

Arif = pandai Asaad = harimau, singa

Aulia = orang suci Awal = yang pertama

Azmun = cita-cita yang tetap Bani = anak

Burhan = bukti nyata Yatim = anak tak berayah

Daim = kekal Darussalam = alam yang aman tentram

Efendi = bangsawan Fadil = luhur/mulia

Fahmi = besar Farid = tunggal

Fatah = pembuka Fatoni = murah hati

Fauzan = menang, jaya Fitri = suci

Fjri = fajar Fuad = hati

Gani = kaya Habib = sahabat

Habibi = kekasihku Hanif = yang taat agama

Haris = penjaga Hasan = baik, elok

Hidayat = pemimpin, petunjuk Ibnu = anak laki-laki

Ibra = pengampunan Ihram = suci

Ihsan = perbuatan baik Ikram = penghormatan

Iman = beriman Imron = kelahiran

Irfan = murah hati Jalal = luhur, mulia

Jamilah = cantik Kadir = tampan, kuasa

Kirun = yang menerima kasih Latif = indah, baik

Lutfi = kebaikan Mahdi = penunjuk jalan, pemimpin

Marwah = harga diri Mirat = cermin

Misbah = lampu Muhaimin = pemberi perlindungan

Mukadis = mensucikan Mukaram = yang mulia

Muklis = jujur Muksin = soleh, baik hidupnya

Mursyid = guru agama, pemimpin agama Naim = nikmat

Nurani = bercahaya Rais = pemimpin

Rubiah = wanita soleh Saadah = bahagia

Said = keturunan nabi Muhammad Salim = selamat

Samad = kekal, abadi Sani = mulia, luhur

Sidiq = jujur Siti = wanita mulia

Sobari = sabar Syamsir = pedang

Syarif = bangsawan turunan nabi Syariffudin = yang naik tinggi

Tahir = bersih, suci Tanzil = yang diturunkan

Wahid = tunggal atau nomor satu Zakaria = laki-laki jantan

Zaki = suci

2.4. Chinese/Indonesianised names:

Salim/Halim [Lim, Liem] Wibowo, Winarto [Wee, Oei]

Gunawan [Goei] Bintoro [Bin, Bien]

Kuncoro  [Kun] Wongso [Wong].

Ongko Wijoyo [Ong, Oei] Chandra [Chan]

Tanuwijaya [Tan]

2.5. Batak Names:

Nama berikut ini biasanya dipakai sebagai nama belakang, sebagai nama diri keluarga, marga atau garis keturunan:

          Hutabarat                         Parlinggoman

          Hutagalung                         Sembiring

          Hutahuruk                         Silitonga

          Hutapea                         Simanggunsong

          Hasibuan                         Simamora

          Lubis                              Simalungun

          Manihuruk                         Simanjuntak

          Marpaung                         Simanungkalit

          Napitupulu                         Simorangkir

          Nainggolan                         Simatupang

          Nasution                         Sinaga

          Pakpahan                         Singarimbun

          Pasaribu                         Sihombing

          Pangaribuan                         Tampubolon

          Rajagukguk                         Tambunan

          Rangkuti                         Siregar

          Batubara                          Sitompul

          Panjaitan

Nama diri yang sangat umum, biasanya dipakai sebagai nama depan :

    

Butet          Poltak               Polan

Note:

These names can be found in every paper, every day…and also through meeting people. This is an excellent exercise for the foreign learner. But names do not need to be restricted to people. Whenever the foreign learner is travelling, they can be noting down the names of buses, vans, trucks, ships (and shops). There are a great number of delightful, witty, entertaining and informative names to be found. They can be reported back later in class, and organised into categories. Here are some examples below.

2.6. Names of buses:

Djoki Local Domestic Hikmah

Yuliet Pujaan Sederhana

Yes Widodo Putro Non-Blok

Hercules Anak Perdana Maniac

Sumber Kencono Langsung Jaya Pria Idaman

Ambisi Widoro Night Dog

Sido Mulyo Balola Adikku Sayang

2.7. Names of vans:

Hasil Tani Putro Pendowo Netral

Lisa Keluarga Dafid

Dayak Alafonso Cewek

Bad Boy Crew Wahyu Romo Primadona

Yunior Zeus Fuck

Putro Mulyo Doa Doi Budak Nipon

Speed Driver Arizona Virgo

Gemini Mama Memory

Nyal nyul ? Tepos Kepastian

2.8. Names of trucks:

Delapan Putra Wekmu Wekku Bidadari

Besi Tua Bukit Shofar Sabillah

2 Anak Putri Ambisi Karena Dia

Bukan Yang Pertama Kecewa Lagi Sinden

Rimba Raya Netral Bolo (Bocah Lali Omah)

Sekilas Janda Joshua Sinar

Kelana Bujang kelana Putera Maria

Singo Joyo Demi Moore Deritamu Dosaku

2.9. Names of ships:

Bone Jaya Sentosa Sejarah Indonesia Emas Nur Jaya Mulia

Bone Jaya Mulya Putra Bahagia III Kartika Nusantara Indah

Bintang Zahra Duta Bahari Mandiri Sosial Annuer

Kembang Setia Raya Bahtera Bahari Muara Inayah

Sagam Sejati Sagam Raya Daeng Patanga

Dwi Mandiri Raja Abadi Profesional Sentosa Harapan Jaya II

Berkat Makmur Hidayah Sagam Murni Bunga Asia Sentosa

Budi Utama Hasil Baru Jaya Mustika Selatan

Kajuara Murni Sinar Harapan Mulya Bone Jaya III

Karya Bahagia Berkat Nikmatturahmah Berkat Amanat

3. City acronyms:

For the travelling foreign student of Indonesian, there is great interest and information that can come from looking for and noting down the 'city acronyms' of the places travelled through. These acronyms have been a feature of New Order Indonesian society, and there was official encouragement for towns to adopt acronyms that summed up their special aspects and aspirations, and which were also consistent with the ideals of 'pembangunan'. I believe that there were prizes for good acronyms. This is a very good teaching aid for the very important acronym aspect of Indonesian language, and it is also very useful to see vocabulary items that people 'chose for themselves'. The acronyms can be grouped together about certain themes, and their constituent elements provide a lesson in highly ranked concepts in Indonesia.

** Boyolali Tersenyum: ** Denpasar Berseri:

Tertib Bersih

Elok Sehat

Rapi Rindang

Sehat Indah

Nyaman

Untuk .Masyarakat

** Pacitan Berhias: ** Karanganyar Tenteram:

Bersih Tenang

Indah Teduh

Aman Rapih

Sejahtera Aman

** Tabanan Yang Bali: ** Pamekasan Berteman:

Bersih Bersih

Aman Tertib

Lestari Aman

Indah

** Cirebon Kota Berintan: ** Donorejo AKIK:

Bersih Aktif

Indah Kreatif

Tertib Inovatif

Aman Komunikatif

** Klaten Bersinar: ** Mataram Kota Ibadah:

Bersih Indah

Sehat Bersih

Indah Aman

Nyaman Damai

Aman Harmonis

Rapih

** Medan Bestari: ** Sampang Bahari:

Bersih Bersih

Sehat Agamis

Tertib Harmonis

Aman Aman

Rapi Rapi

Indah Indah

** Gunung Kidul Handayani: ** Jakarta Teguh Beriman:

Hijau Teruskan

Aman Gerakan

Normatif Untuk

Dinamis Hidup

Amal

Yakin Bersih

Asah Asih Asuh Indah

Nilai Tambah Menarik

Indah Aman

Nyaman

** Sragen ASRI: ** Ngawi Berjuang:

Aman Bersih

Sehat Maju

Rapi Anggun

Indah

** Sumenup Sumekar: ** Payakumbuh Kota yang Batiah:

Sejahtera Bersih

Unik Aman

Menarik Tertib

Elok Indah

Kenangan Anggun

Aman Harmonis

Ramah

4. Body language:

We can certainly work systematically through the body, from top to bottom, explaning gestures, movements and significances.

4.1. The head 4.5. The hand

4.2. The eyes 4.6. Shaking hands

4.3. The mouth 4.7 The fingers

4.4. The chin 4.8. Sitting

4.9 The feet

5. Peribahasa Indonesia

Peribahasa	“2102 Peribahasa…”	“5700 Peribahasa”	“ Kamus Peribahasa…”
1.   dengan kata Air	53	57	30
2.   dengan kata Ayam	23	49	24
3.   dengan kata Anjing	18	23	19
4.   dengan kata Anak	17	34	10
5.   juga dengan kata Api	17	24	10
6.   dengan kata Adat	15	30	15
7.   juga dengan kata Mulut	15	30	15
8.  dengan kata Biduk	12	13	11
9.  dengan kata Angin	11	8	11
10. juga dengan kata Bulan	11	7	7
11. juga dengan kata Bunga	11	10	13
12. juga dengan kata Darah	11	9	2
13. juga dengan kata Orang	11	23	7
14. dengan kata Nasi	10	18	6
15. dengan kata Muka	9	10	3
16. juga dengan kata Kucing	9	25	12
17. dengan kata Harimau	8	23	9
18. dengan kata Batu	7	16	11
19. juga dengan kata Belalang	7	11	6
20. juga dengan kata Belut	7	8	6
21. juga dengan kata Bulu	7	4	6
22. juga dengan kata Kayu	7	14	3
23. juga dengan kata Kerbau	7	25	12
24. juga dengan kata Ombak	7	14	5
25.juga dengan kata Rumah	7	13	8

Peribahasa Yang Sering Dipakai Orang

1.   Memancing di air keruh

2.   Sambil menyelam minum air.

3.   Habis manis sepah dibuang

4.   Ada udang di balik batu.

5.   Bagai telur di ujung tanduk

6.   Air beriak tanda tak dalam

7.   Tong kosong nyaring bunyinya

8.   Air tenang menghanyutkan

9.   Biar lambat asal selamat

10.           Malu bertanya sesat di jalan

11.           Rajin pangkal pandai, hemat pangkal kaya

12.           Bagai makan buah simalakama

13.           Besar pasak daripada tiang

14.           Kecil-kecil cabe rawit

15.           Air susu dibalas air tuba

16.           Seperti katak dalam tempurung

17.           Anjing menggonggong kafilah tetap berlalu

18.           Jauh di mata, dekat di hati

19.           Diberi betis hendak paha

20.           Lain di mulut , lain di hati

21.           Seperti kerbau dicocok hidungnya

22.           Serigala berbulu domba

23.           Patah tumbuh hilang berganti

24.           Gugur satu tumbuh seribu

25.           Tak ada gading yang tak retak

26.           Tak ada rotan akar pun jadi

27.           Kura-kura dalam perahu

28.           Berakit-rakit ke hulu, berenang-renang ke tepian.

Ungkapan Tambahan

1.   Diam seribu bahasa

2.   Mengambil langkah seribu

3.   Menggunting dalam lipatan

4.   Musuh dalam selimut

5.   Penjahat itu menelanjangi kebusukan temannya sendiri

6.   Maju kena mundur kena

7.   Sudah jatuh tertimpa tangga pula

8. Apa boleh buat, nasi sudah menjadi bubur.

We have such huge collections of proverbs; they are almost too frighteing to use. What I have tried to do here is to show the main concepts which seem to generate proverbs in Indonesia. I have done this by checking the quantity of proverbs in a number of these voluminous works. A very similar pattern comes from each book.

The top ten concepts which generate proverbs are:

Air

Ayam

Anjing

Anak

Api

Adat

Mulut

Biduk

Angin…then -equally:

Bulan/Bunga/Darah/Orang.

These seem to me to generate a picture of a certain world, an agricultural world with certain key factors - humans in nature? the village? But what also interests me is the question of where proverbs come from? From village wisdom? Or sophisticated intellectuals, hiding complex ideas under apparently simple veneer? Or perhaps from wandering story-tellers.

__________

In brief, I hope I have shown some avenues, by which we can teach about culture, but find that culture within the language.

David Reeve,

University of New South Wales.

19.8.2001.