More Indonesian Words

Time for an update of my new Indonesian vocabulary. Let's start with a printed sign that was affixed to the backrest of a sofa in a coffee shop that I visited today.

NYENDER

I was initially confused by the splitting of dilarang into the two words di larang. I don't know why this was done. Google Translate rendered this as it is forbidden to lean. This was a surprise because there are signs in all malls asking mall rats not to lean against the glass. These are rendered as dilarang bersandar pada kaca and this translates as it is forbidden to lean against the glass. So where does nyender come from?

A question posed on this site asks what does nyender mean and the answer returned is that nyender comes from the root word sandar and nyender (bersandar) means to lean on. I gather this word is an example of bahasa Indonesia gaul or colloquial Indonesian. The word is listed on a site https://celotehbahasa.com/ (celoteh means babble) that has 104 learning modules, the last one being created only 14 hours ago. 

It looks like a useful resource. The word is listed as meaning to lean but there is a confusing example of its usage attached, namely Itu ikan paling lagi nyender! Capek berenang!. Google Translate renders this as That's the most tender fish ever! Tired of swimming!". Make of that what you will. I think the first sentence is mistranslated and probably means that the fish is leaning (against the glass of the fishtank again) because it's tired of swimming.

ChatGPT has the following response to the query: 

Can you explain what the word "nyender" means in the Indonesian language and give an example of usage?

I'm sorry, but as an AI language model, I cannot find a definition or any reference to the word "nyender" in the Indonesian language. It is possible that this word is a regional or colloquial term, or perhaps a misspelling or a slang term. If you could provide more context or information about the word, I would be happy to try to help you further.

However, it's response to this query was quite different:

Can you explain what the word "bersandar" means in the Indonesian language and give an example of usage?

Yes, "bersandar" is a verb in Indonesian that means "to lean on" or "to rest against". It is often used to describe the physical action of supporting oneself or an object by leaning on something else.

Here's an example of usage in a sentence:

Saya lelah, jadi saya bersandar pada tembok sejenak. (I'm tired, so I leaned against the wall for a moment.)

Another example:

Dia bersandar pada kursi sambil membaca buku. (He leaned on the chair while reading a book.)

In both examples, the verb "bersandar" is used to describe the action of leaning on something for support or comfort.

WARAS

This is an important word meaning sane and is the lawan kata of gila meaning crazy. The kata benda that derives from it is kewarasan meaning sanity. In a broader sense it can mean healthy in mind and body as in this example:

Saya tidak masuk kerja karena badanku kurang WARAS.

I didn't go to work because my body was not HEALTHY.

In this example we see a common occurrence in Indonesian with the use of kurang meaning less to suggest something like I didn't go to work because my body was (feeling) less than healthy. This sort of euphemism is common in English as well when we say I'm less than happy with your performance and mean I'm not happy with your performance. 

KETIAK

This word means armpit but the word ketek is also used in Jakarta but ketiak is the more widespread term. This got me thinking about revising the words for body parts, starting with the head. Most of them I know but I'll list them all here for completeness.

• head - kepala
• forehead - dahi
• face - wajah
• eyes - mata
• eyelids - kelopak mata (kelopak means petals)
• eyelashes - bulu mata
• eyebrows - alis
• nose - hidung
• nostrils - lubang hidung
• mouth - mulut
• lips - bibir
• teeth - gigi
• tongue - lidah
• chin - dagu
• cheeks - pipi
• ears - telinga 
• ear lobes - daun telinga (daun means leaf)
• hair - rambut
• neck - leher

In the Body Parts graphic, we find the additional words:

• shoulder - bahu
• arm - lengan
• chest - dada
• stomach - perut
• hand - tangan
• fingers - jari tangan
• waist - pinggang
• hips - pinggul
• thigh - paha
• knee - lutut
• foot - kaki
• toes - jari kaki

I thought that I'd put ChatGPT to the test again and ask it the following (throwing in the Sanskrit because ... why not?):

Can you provide a list of names for various parts of the body in both English and Indonesian and Sanskrit?

Sure, here's a list of names for various parts of the body in English, Indonesian, and Sanskrit:

1. Head - Kepala - Shiras
2. Hair - Rambut - Kesh
3. Forehead - Dahi - Bhru
4. Eyebrow - Alis - Bhrukuti
5. Eye - Mata - Chakshu
6. Ear - Telinga - Karn
7. Nose - Hidung - Nasa
8. Mouth - Mulut - Mukha
9. Lips - Bibir - Oshta
10. Teeth - Gigi - Danta
11. Tongue - Lidah - Jihva
12. Throat - Tenggorokan - Kantha
13. Neck - Leher - Griva
14. Shoulder - Bahu - Skandha
15. Arm - Lengan - Bahu
16. Elbow - Siku - Koorpara
17. Wrist - Pergelangan tangan - Manibandha
18. Hand - Tangan - Hasta
19. Finger - Jari - Angushtha
20. Chest - Dada - Uras
21. Stomach - Perut - Udara
22. Back - Punggung - Pristha
23. Hip - Pinggul - Kati
24. Buttocks - Pantat - Uru
25. Leg - Kaki - Pada
26. Thigh - Paha - Janu
27. Knee - Lutut - Janu
28. Calf - Betis - Jangha
29. Foot - Kaki - Pada
30. Toe - Jari kaki - Angushtha.

Note: The Sanskrit terms listed are transliterated from the Devanagari script and may vary slightly depending on the system of transliteration used.

Actually the Sankrit words above prompted me to ask the following of ChatGPT: 

Can you provide a list of ten words that the Indonesian language has inherited from Sanskrit, listing the original Sankrit word and the (possibly) modified Indonesian form of the word?

Yes, here are ten words that the Indonesian language has inherited from Sanskrit, along with the original Sanskrit word and the modified Indonesian form:

1. Agama - Agama: refers to religion; in Indonesian it refers to a particular religion or belief system, and the term "agama Hindu" is used to refer to Hinduism.
2. Asana - Asana: refers to a yoga posture; in Indonesian, it refers to a physical exercise posture.
3. Guru - Guru: refers to a teacher or master; in Indonesian, it refers to a teacher or instructor.
4. Dewa - Deva: refers to a deity or god; in Indonesian, it refers to a divine being or spirit.
5. Ratna - Ratna: refers to a precious stone or gem; in Indonesian, it refers to a precious or valuable object.
6. Karya - Karya: refers to a work or creation; in Indonesian, it refers to a work of art or literature.
7. Sari - Sari: refers to essence or extract; in Indonesian, it refers to a type of fabric or a condensed liquid.
8. Mantra - Mantra: refers to a sacred utterance or chant; in Indonesian, it refers to a magical spell or incantation.
9. Marga - Marga: refers to a family or clan name; in Indonesian, it refers to a surname or family name.
10. Widyaiswara - Vidya-isvara: refers to a teacher or master of knowledge; in Indonesian, it refers to a teacher or trainer in a particular field of expertise.

Note: The Indonesian forms of these words may vary in spelling or pronunciation depending on their usage and context.

And The Scales Fell From My Eyes

Scale is a multipurpose word in English. For example, there is the centigrade scale defined as "a temperature scale that defines the freezing point of water as 0 degrees and the boiling point of water as 100 degrees". There are too of course the various musical scales. It can be used in the sense of "extent" as in "the scale of the destruction was difficult to comprehend". There are scale drawings of objects. 

So when Google Translate throws up "scale" as the meaning for the Indonesian word "sisik", it's not immediately apparent in what sense the word scale is being used. I encountered the word in a recent KATLA. See Figure 1.

Figure 1

However, bab.la makes its meaning clear. See Figure 2.

Figure 2

The same site provides the following example of its use:

Hal lain yang menarik tentang biologi adalah bahwa biologi memberi Anda struktur yang sungguh rinci dengan sambungan sisik yang bagus.

And so the other thing that's beautiful about biology is that biology gives you really exquisite structures with nice link scales. 

My Indonesian dictionary fails to mention the word at all. Here is another example of its use:

Shin membuat tebakannya sambil melihat sisik yang masih jatuh dari tubuh iblis.

Shin formed his guess while looking at the scales still falling from the demon's body. 

The Indonesian word "scala" can also be used in lieu of "sisik" and this is easier to remember because of its similarity to the English word "scale". There is "penyu sisik", so named because its carapace has a scale-like appearance. See Figure 3.

Figure 3

There is also a "Dragon Scales Leaf" or "Daun Sisik Naga". See Figure 4.

Figure 4

Balustrades and Things

 The KATLA word for today was birai meaning ledge or bullustrade. See Figure 1.

Figure 1

The word is not in my Indonesian-English dictionary but Google Translate renders it as "ledge" and bab.la renders it as "balustrade". This got me thinking about what exactly was a balustrade. I had a fuzzy notion and thought I'd investigate further. The diagram shown in Figure 2 was helpful.

Figure 2: source

This site is useful in explaining the difference between a handrail and a bulustrade.

What is a balustrade? 

A balustrade is made up of numerous vertical posts or a solid section which sits at the side of the stair treads. The balustrade on your stairs will be found under the handrail and its main purpose is for safety to stop people from falling over the side of a stair or ramp. Many materials are now used to form the balustrade including metal, wood or glass.

What is a handrail? 

Stair handrail is the term used to describe the railing that runs along the staircase. This is the rail, which can be held with your hand, it is the section that acts as a support or guide. There are requirements for handrails which dictate the height, materials and colours used to ensure good visibility and safety.

Figure 3 shows another type of balustrade and introduces the terms "banister" and "spindle". 

Figure 3: source

By way of explanation, the site offers the following explanation:

Baluster

A baluster is a vertical piece between a railing and other wood or the floor that adds support and safety; a short and decorative post or pillar that supports a top rail. The term baluster actually comes from the Italian word for pomegranate flowers, balaustra, which was chosen because these architectural features sometimes mimic them. Balusters can be made of wood, iron, stone and other materials. The term baluster is interchangeable with the word spindle.

Balustrade

A balustrade is comprised of an assembled top rail, balusters or spindles and often a bottom rail, posts, post caps, and decorative finials. It is a composite made up of individual parts, such as the balusters and a railing/handrail. It can be used indoors or outdoors, for staircases and balconies, as well as decorative structures.

Banister (Bannister)

The banister is actually used as a name for a staircase baluster, although it is commonly referring to the handrail of the structure.

This site gives an overview of the different types of balustrades that includes:

• wrought iron
• aluminium
• wood
• stainless steel
• strand wire
• glass

Figure 4 shows a two part balustrade of glass and strand wire.

Figure 4: source

I think the terminology has been clarified.

Words for Vegetables in Indonesian

In today's KATLA I was alerted to the fact that kubis is the Indonesian word for "cabbage". See Figure 1.

Figure 1

As can be seen in Figure 1, I started with catur (chess) but with limited success. I knew that there was a "U" in one of four possible positions. My next attempt, bumbu (flavour), fixed the position of the "U" and informed me that there was a "B" in one of the  three possible positions. My third attempt, kubik (cubic), was spectacularly successful and located four letters in their correct positions.

Here is an example of the use of the word kubik:

Persamaan kubik selalu memberikan tiga solusi, meskipun tidak harus berbeda.

A cubic equation always gives three solutions, although they need not be distinct.

However, it's the Indonesian words for vegetables that I want to concentrate on in this post. See Figure 2 shows a list of English-Indonesian words that will serve as our starting point.

Figure 2: source

I've added this chart to my Pinterest board titled Indonesian Vocabulary. 

As today has turned into tomorrow, I'll include my latest KATLA in Figure 3.

Figure 3

I'd not heard of makar before and had to guess it. Google Translate renders its meaning as "treason" but my Indonesian dictionary returns:

Word: makar 

Short Definition: trick, tactics 

English Definition: 

1. trick, tactics 

2. attack, assault 

3. attack against the government  

Examples: 

Para mahasiswa mengadakan gerakan MAKAR terhadap bekas

Presiden Suharto = Students had organized a movement to ATTACK the

former Presiden Suharto

There is a kata benda or noun, namely makaran, that is translated by Google as "plot". 

The Sun and Moon in Indonesian

As I continue with Katla, the Indonesian version of Wordle, my latest result is shown in Figure 1. All the words shown are acceptable Indonesian words from Katla's viewpoint, even though final and viral are also words in English. The final word, hilal, I had to guess at and I choose it because I knew halal was a word and hilal was very similar. A quick check using Google Translate returned the meaning "new moon". I thought I'd investigate further.

Figure 1

To my surprise, the word didn't appear at all in my Indonesian dictionary that I have sitting on the hard drive of my laptop as a PDF. However, there was an entry in the Indonesian Wikipedia that states:

Hilal adalah bulan sabit muda pertama yang dapat dilihat setelah terjadinya konjungsi (ijtimak, bulan baru) pada arah dekat matahari terbenam yang menjadi acuan permulaan bulan dalam kalender Islam. Biasanya hilal diamati pada hari ke-29 dari bulan Islam untuk menentukan apakah hari berikutnya sudah terjadi pergantian bulan atau belum. Hilal juga merupakan bagian dari fase – fase bulan.

Google Translate renders this as: 

Hilal is the first young crescent that can be seen after conjunction (ijtimak, new moon) in the direction near sunset which is a reference to the beginning of the month in the Islamic calendar. Usually the new moon is observed on the 29th day of the Islamic month to determine whether the following day has taken place or not. The new moon is also part of the moon phases.

The sighting of this new moon is most important in determining the start of Ramadan. This realisation of what hilal meant motivated me to look at some other astronomical terms. One that I'm familiar with is "solar system" that translates as tata surya which is surprising because the word for "sun" is matahari, the eye in the sky. Why is surya used instead? 

I put the following question to ChatGPT:

Why do Indonesians use the word "surya" to refer to the sun when used in the phrase "tata surya" or solar system? The normal word for the Sun in Indonesian is "matahari".

It thought about it for a good while and then provided this quite reasonable response:

The word "surya" is derived from Sanskrit and is commonly used in Indonesia to refer to the Sun in certain cultural and religious contexts. "Tata Surya" literally means "system of the Sun" and refers to the solar system. The use of the term "surya" emphasizes the importance and significance of the Sun in ancient Hindu-Buddhist belief systems that have influenced Indonesian culture. 

The word for the Moon of course in bulan but this word also means "month" which is not surprising as the Islamic world uses a lunar calendar and not a solar one. Thus the Moon marks the months. The phases of the Moon are as follows:

• bulan sabit - crescent moon (sabit means "sickle")
  
  
• bulan bungkuk - gibbous moon (bungkuk means "hunchback")
  
  
• bulan purnama - full moon (or purnama can be used by itself)
  
  
• gerhana matahari - solar eclipse (gerhana means "eclipse")
  
  
• gerhana bulan - lunar eclipse
  
  
• gerhana cincin - annular eclipse (cincin means "ring")

That will do it for this post.

Indonesian Language Skills

 I made a post at the start of 2022 titled The Usual Suspects in which I wrote:

With the start of a new year, I usually try to kick start some projects that have languished over the previous year. One of those is my Indonesian language skills. Just as in Mathematics where I examine the number associated with my diurnal age, I thought I might be able to examine, on a daily basis, at least one Indonesian word or phrase that I was unfamiliar or uncertain about. 

I don't think my Indonesian language skills have improved much over the past year unfortunately and I failed to an Indonesian word or phrase on a daily basis. Let's look back at my posts over the years relating to the language:

• Indonesian Language on Saturday, 26th December 2020
  
  
• Translating Figurative Language on Sunday, 30th October 2022
  
  
• The Usual Suspects on Tuesday, 4th January 2022
  
  
• New Year Resolutions on Thursday, 31st December 2020
  
  
• More Word Game Adventures on Saturday, 5th February 2022
  
  
• Indonesian Vocabulary: Present for the Missus on Sunday, 3rd January 2021 
  
  
• INDONESIAN: The 101-200 Most Frequently Used English Words Translated on Wednesday, 6th December 2017
  
  
• INDONESIAN: The 201-300 Most Frequently Used English Words Translated on Friday, 25th December 2020
  
  
• Indonesian Vocabulary: Pisah on Saturday, 29th May 2021
  
  
• Word Visualisation on Wednesday, 14th April 2021
  
  
• INDONESIAN: The 100 Most Frequently Used English Words Translated on Friday, 1st December 2017
  
  
• Google Translate on Saturday, 22nd August 2020
  
  
• Pointing the Finger: Indonesian Style on Wednesday, 3rd March 2021

There's enough material here for some useful revision. The problem with my posts is that I tend not to look back at them once I've made them. I need to keep looking for innovative ways to improve my language skills. 

Let's try chess. What are the Indonesian names for the various pieces and moves? Here are some taken from this website.

• King - Raja
• Queen - Menteri
• Rook - Benteng
• Bishop - Gaja
• Knight - Kuda
• Pawn - Pion/Bidak
• Check - Skak
• Checkmate - Skak Mati
• Chess - Catur
• Chess Pieces - Bidak Catur
• Chess Board - Papan Catur
• Chess Game - Percaturan

Just in conclusion, this tweet caught my eye and I decided to play the game.

I came up with FREEDOM, RELAXATION and PROGRESS. So this could define my year: feel that I have the freedom to experiment in whatever way I choose, enjoy the relaxation that comes from this sense of freedom and sit back and watch as I make awesome progress in Indonesian language skills, guitar playing, mathematics, gardening, chess, meditation or whatever else I find of interest.

It occurred to me that I should make more use of Pinterest. I've had an account for a long while now but haven't made much use of. To this end I've created a board called Indonesian Language and Figure 2 shows my first addition to it. Most of these words I already knew but it's important to be reminded of them and see them in print so that they embed themselves more deeply in my memory.

Figure 1

I've also started playing KATLA again. See Figure 2. It turns out that "kanal" is just the phonetic spelling of the English word "canal".

Figure 2

ChatGPT

I thought I'd test of ChatGPT's capabilities by asking it to generate a short story based on my own input. I asked it to do the following:

Write a short story, about 500 words, about two friends meeting accidentally on a city street after not seeing each other for many years. The story should describe their reactions to their changed physical appearance and emotions associated with connecting again after such a long time.

Here is what it came up with:

As she walked down the busy city street, Maria couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia wash over her. She hadn't seen her old friend Jake in years, not since they graduated college and went their separate ways. Maria had always wondered what had become of Jake, and she couldn't believe her luck when she spotted him walking towards her from across the street.

At first, Maria wasn't sure it was him. The young man approaching her had a full beard and wore a suit, looking nothing like the scruffy, carefree college student she remembered. But as he got closer, Maria recognized the mischievous twinkle in his eye and the friendly smile that had always lit up his face.

"Jake!" Maria exclaimed, rushing towards him and throwing her arms around him in a hug.

Jake's eyes widened in surprise as he hugged Maria back. "Maria! I can't believe it's you! What are you doing here?"

Maria laughed and stepped back, taking a good look at Jake. "I could ask you the same thing! You look so different!"

Jake chuckled and ran a hand through his beard. "Well, a lot has changed since college. I got a job in finance and moved to the city. How about you?"

Maria told Jake about her job as a teacher and how she had married her high school sweetheart. As they caught up on all the years they had lost, Maria couldn't believe how much they had both changed. But as she looked at Jake, she realized that some things never change. He was still the same kind, compassionate person she had always known, and she was grateful to have reconnected with him.

As they parted ways, Jake promised to stay in touch and the two friends made plans to meet up again soon. As she walked away, Maria couldn't help but feel a warm glow in her heart. It was amazing how one chance encounter could bring old friends back together, and she couldn't wait to see what the future held for her and Jake.

This, I think, is rather impressive. Earlier, I had asked it "what is meant by a zero sum outcome?" and this was the response:

A zero sum outcome is a situation in which one person's gain is exactly balanced by the loss of another person. In other words, the total amount of resources available is fixed, and any gain by one person must be offset by an equal loss by another person.

For example, in a game of chess, each player starts with 16 pieces, and the total number of pieces does not change throughout the game. If one player captures one of the opponent's pieces, they have gained a piece, but the opponent has lost a piece. The total number of pieces remains the same, so the gain of one player is balanced by the loss of the other player.

In economic terms, a zero sum outcome is often used to describe situations in which the total wealth or resources available are fixed, and any gain by one person must be offset by a corresponding loss by another person. For example, if one person earns more money, they may have gained a larger share of the total wealth, but someone else must have lost a corresponding amount.

Overall, a zero sum outcome is a situation in which the total amount of resources remains constant, and any gain by one person must be balanced by an equal loss by another person.

Here's an interesting question that I put to it together with its quite reasonable response:

What do a black hole and a bottomless pit have in common?

A black hole and a bottomless pit both have the property of being extremely deep and seemingly without a bottom. They both also have a strong gravitational force that can draw objects towards them. However, there are some key differences between black holes and bottomless pits.

Black holes are regions in space where the gravitational force is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape from them. They are formed when a massive star collapses at the end of its life, and they can have a wide range of masses, from a few times the mass of the Sun to millions or billions of times the mass of the Sun.

A bottomless pit, on the other hand, is a hypothetical concept often used in literature and folklore to describe an extremely deep hole or chasm that has no end. It is not a physical object that exists in the real world.

One other important difference between black holes and bottomless pits is that black holes have been extensively studied and their existence has been confirmed through scientific observations, while bottomless pits are purely fictional and do not actually exist. 

Here's another similar type of question along with the response:

What is the difference between an interdimensional portal and a wormhole?

An interdimensional portal is a hypothetical concept that refers to a hypothetical opening or gateway between different dimensions or universes. The idea of interdimensional portals is often used in science fiction and fantasy literature and media as a way to explain how characters can travel between different dimensions or universes.

A wormhole, on the other hand, is a hypothetical tunnel-like structure that could potentially connect two distant points in space-time. The concept of a wormhole is based on the idea that space-time is not a flat, two-dimensional surface, but rather a three-dimensional fabric that can be bent and stretched. According to this idea, it might be possible to create a shortcut through space-time by creating a tunnel-like structure, or wormhole, that would allow an object or a person to travel from one point in space to another point much more quickly than would be possible using normal means of travel.

While both interdimensional portals and wormholes are hypothetical concepts, wormholes are considered to be a more scientifically credible idea than interdimensional portals, as they are based on established principles of physics, such as the idea of space-time being a three-dimensional fabric. However, it is important to note that the existence of wormholes has not yet been conclusively proven, and they remain a subject of theoretical study in physics.

The level of English is excellent and the explanations clear and concise. ChatGPT will readily provide references for further study.

Could you provide some references that might help with additional investigation of interdimensional portals and wormholes?

Certainly! Here are a few references that might be helpful for further investigation of interdimensional portals and wormholes:For information on interdimensional portals, you might want to check out the following resources:

The Wikipedia page on interdimensional portals (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interdimensional_portal) provides an overview of the concept of interdimensional portals and how they have been used in science fiction and fantasy literature and media.

The TV Tropes page on interdimensional portals (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/InterdimensionalPortal) provides examples of interdimensional portals in various media, including literature, television, and film.

The SF Encyclopedia entry on interdimensional portals (http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/interdimensional_portal) provides a more detailed look at the concept of interdimensional portals and how they have been used in science fiction.For information on wormholes, you might want to check out the following resources:

The Wikipedia page on wormholes (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wormhole) provides a detailed description of the concept of wormholes, including the history of the idea, the theoretical basis for their existence, and the current state of research on this topic.

The Physics Classroom (https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/relativity/Lesson-4/Wormholes) provides a more in-depth look at the physics of wormholes and how they might potentially be used for space travel.

The British Society for the Philosophy of Science's page on wormholes (https://www.bsps.org.uk/resources/wormholes.html) provides a philosophical perspective on the concept of wormholes and the implications of their potential existence.

I hope these resources are helpful! If you have any further questions, don't hesitate to ask.