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| Kamu, Engkau, Awak...How to address people in Malay |
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| Tuesday, 29 December 2009 01:35 |
It is often confusing to new Malay language learner when to use certain words when addressing people. Malays are very concern about addressing people as they do not want to hurt other people’s feelings. When dealing with Malays, it is wise to know the guidelines so you will not be seen as rude or lacking in etiquettes.
Malays addressed each other in many ways. To those close to them, it is possible to use their names when conversing with them. For example, if you are talking to a person named Mary, you can say “ Apa Mary mahu?” ( equivalent to : What would you like, Mary?) .
There are people who addressed themselves ( first person) using names too.
If your name is John you can safely say “John mahu makan.” ( equivalent to : I want to eat). The direct translation is “John wants to eat” and yet the sentence is referring to you as the first person.
Strange? Not really, now consider this sentence “ John tidak tahu apa Mary mahu.” This can be a sentence by John who is saying it to Mary , that he (John) doesn’t know what Mary wants to do. This can be in a situation when Mary is sulking and upset about something and yet doesn’t tell John exactly what she wants.
Those words can also be replaced by “saya” ( me, I, myself) and “awak” ( you).
Using the similar sentence, by replacing the words John to Saya and Mary to awak:
now you (John) can say to Mary “ Saya tidak tahu apa awak mahu.”
However, please take note that there are many Malay words for the word “you” but can be used appropriately to different type of second persons.
The point is, you should not use “ awak”, “kamu”, and “engkau” ( which are all YOU in Malay) when talking to a highly respected person, your lecturers, teachers, bosses, business associates , an elderly person or your older siblings.
In Malay, use the followings to address these people ( second pronoun):
Tuan , Encik , Saudara ( for male - equally to sir or mr.)
Puan ( married women), Cik ( single or unsure of their marriage status), Saudari ( for female – equally to madam or ms)
Malaysia is also blessed with a monarchy system and thus, we addressed our kings and queens in a different manner than those mentioned. When seeing a person who is a king/queen, you will need to know a more elaborate way of addressing him/her majesty.
The first pronoun and second pronoun will be “Patik” (me) and “ Tuanku” (you).
The first pronoun used by a king will be “Beta”. He may addressed you as “ Kamu”.
It is best not to confuse those two words (Patik and Beta) as you may end up using the King’s first pronoun and this is not very good especially when you are representing a country or a business.
For the first pronoun in other circumstances, it is OK to use “saya”. Another common first pronoun is “aku” but often used when dealing with friends or informal sessions although during prayer, Muslims pray using the words “aku” as well.
When there are a few of you, the first pronoun will be “Kami” (we).
For lessons on how to pronounce the words correctly and more appropriate way to address people in your family, making conversations during travel and business trips, subscribe now.
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| Last Updated on Thursday, 11 February 2010 09:38 |
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