A Manual of the Malay language - Sir Maxwell William Edward (best english novels to read TXT) 📗
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I will give bail for any amount— Bĕr-apa bĕrat sakali-pun hamba tuan bĕrani tanggong.
Is this a man of property?— Orang ber-harta-kah ini?
One surety is not enough; there must be two at least— Sa’orang aku ta’jadi sa-korang-korang mahu-lah dua orang.
Sign at this place— Di-sini-lah turun tanda tangan.
Do you know how to write?— Tahu-kah menyurat?
If you cannot write, make a mark— Jikalau ta’tahu menyurat buat-lah goris tanda tangan.
That will do; you can go now— Suda-lah, pulang-lah dahulu.
What do you call this in Malay?— Bahasa Malayu apa kata ini?
He has done it in the English fashion— Dia sudah buat chara Inggris.
Speak loud, and let people hear you— Chakap kuat-kuat sapaya buleh orang men-dengar.
He was very much afraid (and looked) as if he were about to fall down— Takut-lah sakali dia saperti handak rĕbah ka-bawah.
His face grew very pale— Puchat sakali muka-nia.
His statement is incoherent— Ta’tuntu per-kata-an-nia.
He fell at his master’s feet and asked for pardon— Dia menyămbah kaki tuan-nia lalu me-minta ampun.
His master, being very kind-hearted, forgave him— Sebab ter-lalu morah hati tuan-nia langsong di-bĕri-nia ma‘af.
Exercise.Maka jawab pelanduk “Dengar-lah tuanku akan per-kata-an patek ini, ada-pun tuan yang menĕrang-kan sagala ‘alam dunia ini serta laut dan darat iya-itu bulan maka patek ini sa-orang hamba-nia yang di-perchaya-nia maka di-suroh-nia patek datang kapada tuanku minta khabar-kan” maka jawab raja gajah itu “apa-kah khabar-nia? Kata-kan-lah uleh-mu” maka pelanduk itu-pun sambil memandang ka-langit pura-pura iya menyămbah bulan seraya kata-nia “adapun tuanku itu-lah bulan yang ampunya gunong dan kulam itu-pun iya-lah yang mem-buat-nia akan tampat mandi maka apabila iya pulang petang ka-langit maka di-suroh-nia jaga kulam itu dengan be-bĕr-apa singa yang garang-garang maka sebab itu-lah apa-bila di-lihat-nia tuanku ber-angkat datang kamari di-suroh-nia akan hamba mem-bĕri tahu maka apabila tuanku datang di-kulam naschaya di-bunoh-lah uleh sagala singa itu maka dosa-nia itu di-atas-nia maka sebab itu-lah iya menyuroh-kan hamba datang ini membĕri tahu tuanku sakalian menyuroh-kan balik sigra”——.
43. Jamin, “bail,” a word frequently heard in the Straits Settlements, is a corruption of the Hindustani zamin.
LESSON XXVIII.In which direction had we better go?— Sa-bĕlah mana baik kita pergi?
There are numbers of snipe in the padi-fields— Di-bendang baniak juga burong berkik.
He has a double-barrelled gun— Dia punya snapang dua laras.
Both barrels are loaded— Sudah ber-isi ka-dua-nia.
You use very small shot— Tuan pakei pengabur yang halus sakali.
He is a very good shot— Dia pandei sakali menembak burong.
He killed two birds at one shot— Sakali me-letup mati-lah dua ekor burong.
Before we could get close the green pigeons all flew away— Belam sămpat dĕkat lagi habis lari-lah burong punei sumua.
Perhaps we shall get some on the other side of that thicket— Balik sana belukar itu barang-kali dapat kĕlak.
One of its wings is broken.— Patah-lah sayap sa-bĕlah.
It is not hit— Ta’kĕna.
It is wounded slightly— Kĕna juga sadikit.
It has settled on the ground— Sudah hinggap di tanah.
It has perched on a cocoanut tree— Sudah hinggap di pokok nior.
Don’t speak: how can you expect to get near a wild animal if you make a noise?— Jangan ber-mulut, benatang liyar bukan-kah, jikalau engar-engar macham mana handak dĕkat.
The elephant received a ball in his head, and immediately dropped— Kĕna peluru sa-biji di kapala gajah itu, lalu tumbang.
Have you ever shot a tiger?— Ada-kah tuan dapat menembak harimau?
How many birds have you got?— Tuan sudah buleh bĕr-apa ekor burong?
Exercise.“Maka ter-lalu-lah baniak marah-nia akan tuanku tetapi tiada mengapa segra-lah tuanku baliḳ sapaya buleh hamba pergi mem-bujuḳ raja bulan dan mem-baiḳ-ki hati-nia itu dan lagi pikir-lah tuan-tuan sakalian bahawa sakian lama sudah kamarau sagala kulam habis-kah ka-kĕring-an apa sebab-nia kulam44 ini baniaḳ ayer-nia? maka sakalian ini-pun sebab kasihan hati hamba akan jiwa tuan-tuan sapaya jangan anyaya masi.” Sa-ber-mula sa-telah di-dengar uleh raja gajah akan sagala per-kata-an pĕlanduḳ itu maka ka-takut-an-lah iya sambil menyămbah ara ka-langit maka sigra-lah iya ber-balik dengan dahaga-nia. Damikian handaḳ-nia orang yang handak menjadi raja apabila di-dengar orang nama-nia menjadi ka-takut-an ada-nia.
44. Kulam, Tamil, a tank.
LESSON XXIX.Is the tide making or ebbing?— Ayer pasang-kah surut-kah?
Is the boat ready?— Prahu ada siap-kah?
How many people will this boat carry?— Bĕr-apa orang buleh muat di prahu ini?
Ten persons, including two rowers— Buleh muat sa-puloh orang masok anak dayong dua orang.
There is a head-wind; we cannot sail— Angin muka ta’buleh ber-laiar.
Row hard— Dayong-lah kuat-kuat.
When we reach the mouth of the river, you can stop for a moment and rest— Tiba di kuala sakarang buleh berhinti sa-kejap biar hilang penat.
Who is steering?— Siapa pegang kamudi?
If one is going down-stream paddles are used; for going up-stream poles are required— Kalau kilir pakei pengayu kalau mudik mahu-lah ber-galah.
What kind of wood is the best for boat-building?— Kayu mana yang ter-lebeh baik handak mem-buat prahu?
The Chinese sampan is called sampan kotak in Singapore— Sampan China itu kata orang di Singgapura “Sampan kotak.”
Of what wood is this dug-out canoe made?— Prahu sagor ini di-buat dengan kayu apa?
Steer straight for that point— Tuju betul ka tanjong itu.
I shall go on shore at the landing-place— Sahaya handak naik di darat di pengkalan.
Give me the line and let us fish a little— Bahagi-lah tali kail biar kita mengail sakejap.
Have you got any bait?— Umpan ada-kah?
If we have any luck we may catch some big fish— Kalau ada untong kita barang-kali dapat juga ikan besar-besar.
The spines of that fish are very poisonous— Duri ikan itu bisa sakali.
Exercise.Ada kapada suatu hari sa’orang pem-buru masok ka hutan lalu mem-buru iya ber-keliling hutan itu maka lalu ber-temu-lah iya dengan sa’ekor kijang maka di-kejar-nia akan kijang itu serta di-panah-nia sa-telah mati maka di-angkat-nia handak di-bawa-nia pulang sa-telah sampei ka tengah jalan maka ber-temu-lah iya pula dengan sa’ekor babi hutan maka kijang itu-pun di-letak-kan-nia lalu di-kejar-nia akan babi hutan itu lalu di-panah-nia tiada-lah kena maka handak di-panah-nia sakali lagi maka di-terkam-lah uleh babi itu akan dia serta di-gigit-nia maka mati-lah iya ber-sama-sama dengan babi itu akan tetapi anak panah itu ada juga ter-kena kapada busar-nia yang di-tangan pem-buru itu.
LESSON XXX.He is not yet dressed— Dia bĕlum pakei kain lagi.
He is dressed like a Malay— Dia pakei chara Malayu.
Wake me to-morrow morning at six o’clock— Gĕrak-kan sahaya pukul anam pagi.
I want to get up early— Sahaya handak bangun siyang-siyang.
He did not do it on purpose— Bukan-nia dia buat sangaja.
I was only in play— Sahaya lawak-lawak sahaja.
I was very sorry that I could not accompany you— Ter-buku hati sahaya sangat ta‘buleh ber-sama-sama.
What are the contents of that letter?— Apa bunyi-nia surat itu?
Do you understand the pith of it?— Tuan dapat-kah buku-nia?
Has any one been here to look for me?— Ada-kah siapa-siapa datang men-chahari sahaya?
Ask that woman where the well is— Choba tanya pada perampuan itu di-mana-kah talaga.
Is this good water?— Baik-kah ayer ini?
It is excellent water, both clear and cool— Elok sakali ayer ini, jerneh lagi sejuk.
Can we get a green cocoanut here?— Nior muda dapat-kah di-sini?
There is no one who can climb (the tree)— T’ada orang yang tahu panjat.
Let me climb it— Biar aku memanjat.
Have you brought cooking-utensils?— Priuk bĕlanga sudah bawa-kah?
These sticks are damp and will not burn— Basah kayu ini ta’mahu menyala.
Grind the spices— Giling rampah-rampah.
Will you smoke?— Tuan mahu minum rokok?
I am sleepy, and shall go to bed— Sudah mengantuk, sahaya handak masok tidor.
Did you call me?— Tuan panggil-kah?
Exercise.Maka sagala hal itu ada-lah di-lihat uleh sa’ekor srigala maka ber-lari iya datang serta ber-kata “bahwa sapuloh hari lama-nia tiada-lah aku men-chahari makan-an lagi” serta datang-lah iya meng-hampir-i pem-buru itu maka di-gigit-nia tali busar itu maka tiba-tiba anak panah itu-pun datang-lah menikam srigala itu maka iya-pun mati-lah maka jikalau kita terlalu tema‘a dan handak ber-lebeh-lebeh naschaya ada-lah hal kita saperti hakayat pem-buru dengan srigala itu ada-nia.
PART IV.To the more advanced lessons and exercises which are contained in this section, it may be well to prefix a few notes on colloquial Malay, which are suggested by a consciousness of some of the common errors into which European students of Malay are apt to fall.
First, Try to observe and imitate the impersonal and elliptical construction of Malay sentences. Notice how much more is left to the imagination than in English, and get rid of the notion that it is necessary to express invariably by nouns or pronouns the agents or objects of the actions spoken of. Ideas are conveyed in Malay in a much less concrete form than in the civilised languages of Europe, and what is lost in accuracy and distinctness is partially compensated for by brevity.
Why say kasih sama sahaya (lit. “give to me”), in imitation of the English give me, or the French donnez-moi, or the German geben sie mir, in all of which the pronoun is expressed, when a Malay would simply say bahagi-lah, give, or bawa, bring? It is easy enough to leave tone or gesture to supply any deficiency in meaning. The constant use of this phrase, sama sahaya, or sama kita, is a bad habit, which arises from a natural desire to give the word “me” its due value in Malay. This, as has been shown, is not necessary.
Examples.Tell me; don’t be afraid— Bilang-lah, jangan takut; not, bilang sama sahaya, &c.
What are you going to give us?— Apa mahu bahagi? not, apa mahu bahagi sama kita?
How much must I pay you?— Bĕr-apa nanti kĕna bayar? not, bĕr-apa sahaya mahu bayar sama angkau?
I want him to make me a jacket— Sahaya handak suroh dia buat baju; not, sahaya handak suroh dia buat baja sama sahaya.
Can you make me a table?— Buleh-kah buat meja? not, buleh-kah buat meja sama sahaya.
Afterwards come and tell me— Lepas itu mari-lah khabar-kan; not, mari bilang sama sahaya.
In direct narration the personal pronoun “I” should often be left untranslated, and the sentence put in an impersonal form. We are accustomed to commence sentences frequently with “I think,” “I hear,” “I hope,” “I wish,” and there is a temptation therefore to overload Malay sentences with “Sahaya fikir,” “Sahaya dengar khabar,” &c. These, though not ungrammatical, should be used sparingly. Rasa-nia, the feeling is, agak-nia, the guess is, rupa-nia, the appearance is (it seems), khabar-nia, the report is, and similar phrases, should often take their place.
Examples.Instead of— I am told, or people tell me, Orang bilang sama sahaya; Say, People say, Kata orang.
Instead of— I hear that he is coming here, Sahaya dengar khabar dia handak mari sini; Say, He is coming here, the report goes, Dia handak kamari khabar-nia.
Instead of— I think there are five quarts, Sahaya fikir ada lima chupah; Say, There are five quarts, the estimate is, Ada lima chupah agak-nia.
Instead of— I think it is going to rain, Sahaya fikir hari handak hujan; Say, It is going to rain, it seems, Hari handak hujan rupa-nia.
Instead of— I like driving better than walking, Sahaya lagi suka naik kreta deri-pada jalan kaki; Say, It is better to drive than to walk, Baik ber-kreta deri-pada ber-jalan.
Note the impersonal way of putting the statement in the following sentences:—
I was very glad to hear it— Sangat-lah suka hati sahaya akan men-dengar.
I very much wish to go to Meccah— Niat hati sahaya handak pergi ka-Makah.
I should be doing wrong to receive it, and I am ashamed to return it— Handak tĕrima salah, handak pulang-kan malu.
I was disappointed— Putus-lah harap sahaya.
I hope sincerely that the case will soon be decided— Besar-lah harap sahaya bichara itu akan di-putus-kan dengan sigra.
I have made up my mind that, however great the oppression may be, I will hold out— Tetap-lah hati sahaya bageimana bĕrat sakali-pun handak tahan juga.
Second, Avoid word-for-word translations of English sentences in which the word “you” occurs. So much has been said on this subject already (supra, pp. 49, 75) that it is only necessary here to give a few additional illustrations of the mode in which Malays dispense with the pronoun. In most English and Malay phrase-books the use of angkau is far too frequent.
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