Balinese Language

Taken from Bungklang Bungkling, Basa-Basi, in Bali Post, Sunday, 23 November 2008, a column by I Wayan Juniartha
Translated by Putu Semiada

Many people are concerned on the existence of Balinese language. Even the government now is planning to impose a special regulation to save Balinese language.

“When the time comes, anything will be gone, whatever it is; kingdom, holy thing, religion or even language,” says Made Gaul Kiul.

I Made is a controversial man. When everybody is heading south, he will do instead. When the other banjar

members wearing red, he will wear white. When everybody is busy doing numbers for the lottery, he will busy play the Chinese cards. He is exactly different from others.

“Made is always making troubles. Who do you think will look after the Balinese if we don’t? Jro Gede Basang Gde argues.

For Balinese language matters, Jro Gde is the right person. Wherever he is, he always speaks Balinese, whether at his house or at his office. And it is said that every time he dreams, the language used in his dreams are Balinese. When a man in his village would like to marry a woman, he will voluntarily become the ‘negotiator’. When everybody wants to be a legislative member, he just wants to be a bendesa so that he can use Balinese language all the time..

All the kramas are laughing. They anticipate a hot debate. It is known that Made is often against Jro Gde’s opinion, while Jero Gde hates when Made argued him. Everybody then is busy eating peanuts and chips.

“What makes you think I don’t care about Balinese language. It is people like me who cares Balinese very much. I don’t use Indonesian to the vendor when I buy palm toddy. I don’t use English when I pray to the God, but Balinese instead.

Everybody is giving applause to Made. They agree to what he says. They know that Made can only speak Balinese. He can’t speak Indonesian nor English.

“It is the Balinese intellectuals and the officials who don’t use Balinese language. They prefer to use Indonesian with some words in English to make people think that they are educated persons.”

So when they think that Balinese language will be gone, they are busy holding seminars discussing about how to save it.

However, it looks funny that their seminar ads are in Indonesian. And they who give speeches as well as the participants use Indonesian.

So all the seminars are wasting time and money, with no results. Everything then back to the government’s responsibility.

“They think that when a regulation has been imposed, the problem will be gone,” Made says.

A local regulation was made long time ago in which the names of the streets as well as the names of government offices should be in Balinese which they do.

“You can ask any Balinese you meet if they even read the sign. Most of them won’t as it will take time.”

Everybody is giving applause. As a matter of fact they get bored with seminars that claiming to save Balinese language. Everybody just want to talk but when they are asked to do something real, nobody will.

“Why don’t we just keep it simple like what it is going on now? If people think they still need Balinese language and it is still useful, they will keep using it. What if they don’t?”

Glossary:
Made Gaul Kiul: a lazy person
Banjar: village community
Jro Gde Basang Gde: an arrogant fat man
bendesa: village leader in charge for customary (adapt) matters
krama: community