Review of «The Indonesian Way» by Jessica Fox0 (0)
Our beginner-level textbook, «The Indonesian Way», has been reviewed by Dr. Jessica Fox, who holds a Ph.D. in Second Language Studies from Michigan State University. The review was published in her article Toward a task-based textbook for Indonesian language learning in the Journal of the National Council of Less Commonly Taught Languages, Vol. 19 . Dr. Fox starts her review by stating “I find this textbook to be particularly useful for today’s Indonesian language teachers because the methods promoted in
The Plural in Indonesian4 (1)
In textbooks for the Indonesian language, you may read that the plural form is created by reduplicating the noun. In Indonesian for Beginners by Restiany Achmad, on page 6, it states: The plural form of countable nouns in Indonesian is very simple: double the noun when it does not include a number or a quantity word. However, this is not entirely accurate! For example, how would you translate “When I was a child, there were no computers”? Would it be…
The Importance of Correct Pronunciation in Learning Indonesian4.7 (3)
Learning a new language opens doors to new cultures, ideas, and opportunities, but mastering correct pronunciation is a crucial aspect that is often underestimated. Pronunciation directly affects how well we are understood and how confidently we engage with native speakers. For native English speakers, the challenge of learning correct pronunciation in languages like Indonesian is significant due to differences in sounds, stress patterns, and phonetic rules. By understanding these challenges, learners can better navigate their language-learning journey. Ensuring Communication and
How to Pronounce Indonesian5 (1)
Indonesian pronunciation is relatively straightforward, with just six vowels (compared to English’s 12) and 18 consonants. However, depending on your native language, certain aspects of Indonesian may be challenging. For example, Japanese speakers may find the /l/ sound difficult, Germans may struggle with the /j/, and native English speakers often have trouble rolling the /r/. English speakers also frequently mispronounce the /a/ sound, saying orang as if it rhymes with “slang” or pronouncing the “a” in Bali as in “ball.”
Gara-gara5 (1)
Gara-gara & Gara-gara apa? All because of Android! You all know the interrogative kenapa? (why?) and the conjunction karena (because). Now, I realise that the related pair gara-gara apa? (why?) and gara-gara (because) is for the first time mentioned in our intermediate textbook Baca Yuk! but not in The Indonesian Way. Gara-Gara as a Noun The interrogative gara-gara apa? and the conjunction gara-gara are commonly and frequently used words. However, gara-gara is also a noun, which, in the standard Indonesian
Passive voice with prefix ter-5 (2)
The prefix ter- forms passive verbs that are either a) stative, b) accidental, or c) abilitative. It is also used to form the superlative (terbaru – yang paling baru, the newest). Here we will not discuss the superlative, but focus on the verb forming prefix ter-. a) stative verbs These verbs refer to a state of affairs. As there is no action involved there cannot be an actor. Kecepatan terbatas. Speed is limited. | Limited speed. In this sentence emphasis
From bhāṣā to bahasa5 (2)
The word bahasa is derived from Sanskrit bhāṣā and it has the same meaning as language, Sprache, taal, langue, la lengua etc. In most Indian languages the word bhāṣā still has the same meaning. In Hindi, हिन्दी भाषा (Hindi bhāṣā) means ‘Hindi language’, but in English we typically simply call it ‘Hindi’, just as we call bahasa Indonesia ‘Indonesian’. From the first milenium onwards, Southeast Asia underwent a strong Indian influence. Today, about 5% of all Indonesian words are of
Dodol0 (0)
Dodol is a sweet, toffee-like treat made from sticky rice flour (tepung ketan), coconut milk (santan), and palm sugar (gula merah) derived from the sap of the Arenga pinnata sugar palm known as aren or enau. Dodol is sometimes enhanced with durian flavor. This rich and sweet snack is highly popular in Indonesia, where it originated. Historically, dodol has been enjoyed for over a thousand years, as evidenced by its mention in the Masahar inscription from East Java dating back to 930 CE. Nowadays, dodol is closely associated with the city of Garut in West Java, which
Is Indonesian Difficult to Learn?4.7 (3)
For a native speaker of English, learning Indonesian is harder than learning any Romance of Germanic language. This is because English is a Germanic language which has borrowed about half of its vocabulary from Romance languages, mainly French. But is Indonesian more difficult to learn than a Slavonic language such as Russian or Polish? I don’t think so. And it is definitely easier to learn than Arabic, Turkish, Hindi, Chinese, or Vietnamese. Of course, when you are a speaker of
Syukur0 (0)
The word syukur is a loan word from Arabic shukran (شكراً) ‘thank you’. So, how is it different from terima kasih, which is the standard Indonesian phrase for ‘thank you’? You never use syukur to say ‘thank you’. ‘Thank you’ is always terima kasih. But when you want to say ‘I am grateful’, then you may either say saya berterima kasih or saya bersyukur. The main difference between the two is that syukur has a religious undertone. Some examples: Syukur.
How to Express Numbers, Times, and Measures in Indonesian?3.3 (3)
Decimal Place and Thousands Separator Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States (along with some former British and American colonies) are among the few countries globally that use a full-stop (period) to indicate the decimal place. In contrast, most other countries opt for a comma. Similarly, while many English-speaking countries use a comma to separate thousands, many other countries use a period instead. Indonesia follows the European system: One point five kilogram (1.5 kg). Satu koma lima kilogram
A Review of BahasaKita.com0 (0)
The website BahasaKita.com, translating to ‘our language’, is managed by Wieke Gur, an Indonesian citizen currently residing in Perth, Australia. Coinciding with the establishment of Indonesian Online, Wieke launched bahasakita.com, marking the beginning of a close and collaborative partnership between Indonesian Online and BahasaKita. The website boasts a comprehensive section on grammar explanations, with a noteworthy highlight being the extensive coverage of colloquial Indonesian by Dr. Tim Hassell, a Senior Lecturer in Indonesian (Associate Professor in US terminology) at the