Pointing the Finger: Indonesian Style

Pointing is usually achieved with the index finger and there are two words for this finger in Indonesia, one is tunjuk and the other is tuding. The odd thing is that neither of these two words is used to actually refer to this finger. Instead, the term used is jari telunjuk. Figure 1 shows a graphic with the names of all the fingers:

Figure 1

I'm familiar with tunjuk but not tuding. As well as meaning index finger, tunjuk by extension can mean to point at something. Here are some examples of its use (source):

• Saya tidak tahu mengapa orang itu MENUNJUK saya.
  I don't know why that person POINTED TO me. 
  
  
• Bisakah anda MENUNJUKKAN kepada saya di mana kampung Melayu berada?
  Can you POINT OUT to me where the Malay village is located? 
  
  
• Nanti malam ada PERTUNJUKAN wayang di desaku.
  Later tonight there is a shadow puppet PERFORMANCE in my village.
   
• Jangan kau rubah PENUNJUK jalan ini.
  Don't change this ROAD SIGN.

The word tuding can also be used in the sense of pointing as in this example:

• Andi MENUDING lubang tikus di dapur.
  Andi POINTED AT a mouse hole in the kitchen.

The passive form DITUDING can be used to mean be accused of (be pointed at) e.g.

• Pria itu DITUDING mencuri.
  The man is ACCUSED of stealing.

However, there is another word that can be used for pointing at and accusing and that is tuduh. Here are some examples of its use:

• Tetanggaku MENUDUHku mencuri ayamnya.
  My neighbor ACCUSES me of stealing his chicken.
  
  
• Ini baru TUDUHAN pembunuhan tingkat kedua.
  This is just an ACCUSATION of second degree murder. 
  
  
• PENUDUHnya menghadapinya di gedung pengadilan.
  His ACCUSER confronted him in the courthouse.

Once again, the passive form DITUDUH means to be accused of e.g.

• Politisi itu DITUDUH menerima suap.
  The politician is ACCUSED of taking bribes.

That's enough for this post.