Victorian (pen-in-cheek) Vignettes

Glossary of Indigenous Words and Expressions

(M) for Malay; ( C) for Chinese or any of its dialects; (T) for Tamil; (P) for Punjabi




barang: thing. (M)

bhais: “brothers”, referring to Sikhs in particular. (P)

Blakan Mati & Batu Lane: are/were notorious red-light districts in the respective capitals.

blakang (belakang): rear or back. (M)

blukar (belukar): secondary jungle. (M)

botha for botak ("k" forming a glottal stop and hence not pronounced): bald. (M)

changkul: hoe. (M)

cheongsam: Chinese women’s one-piece highly decorative dress of cotton, silk, poplin, or of synthetic material, clinging close to the contours of the body and with high slits up the sides of the thighs. (C)

cilaka: swear word. (M)

duit: money, loose change. (M)

Emergency: Malayan Communist Party’s armed struggle for power in the jungles of Malaya, 1948–60.

fa ling: two lines that descend from the outer edges of nostrils either to the lips [in Chinese physiognomy described as the Flying Serpent entering the mouth] or further down. (C)

hantu: spirit, ghost, informer, secret agent; also rumah hantu: literally "house of ghosts or secret agents", that is: Masonic Lodge. (M)

kampung: village or even urban ethnic quarter/ghetto. (M)

kebun (tukang kebun): gardener. (M)

lah: post-particle used for emphasis (M) by Malayans and Singaporeans even in English.

lalang (lallang): long, upright sword-sharp coarse grass. (M)

lâtah: According to Frank Athelstane Swettenham, “The lâtah man or woman usually met with, if suddenly startled, by a touch, a noise, or the sight of something unsuspected, will not only show all the signs of a very nervous person but almost invariably will fire off a volley of expressions more or less obscene, having no reference at all to the circumstance which has suddenly aroused attention. As a rule it is necessary to startle these people before they will say or do anything to show that they are differently constituted to their neighbours, and when they have betrayed themselves either by word or deed their instinct is to get away as quickly as possible. […] If the attention of…these men was arrested, as I have said by word, sign, or a meaning glance, from that moment until the influence was removed, the lâtah man would do whatever he was told or signed to do without hesitation, whether the act signified were difficult, dangerous, or painful.” Malay Sketches, London: John Lane- The Bodley Head, 1896.

loyar-buros: derogatory term of reference for lawyers since they are supposed to be able to talk the seats off anyone! (M)

makan angin sa(ha)ja: literally "eating air only", meaning going for a stroll. (M)

makan belanja: literally “eat” expenditure. (M)

Mari sini, Inche!: Come here, Mister! (M)

membobos: to be leaking. (M)

Min Yuen: “During the Japanese occupation [February 1942 – September 1945] the guerrillas in the jungle had built up a supply organization called the Min Yuen (Footnote: Literally means ‘Mass Movement’.) composed of helpers, both willing and unwilling, who supplied food, medicine, money and information. The Min Yuen was taken over by the communists and became their supply line during the Emergency [1948-1960]”. N.J.Ryan, AHOMAS, 1976, p. 268.

padang: here meaning playing field, (also means plain). (M)

rojak: spicy vinegared Malay traditional salad dish. (M)

rottan: rattan. (M)

sai-kere: a low reverential bow from the hips down, a must for Malayans when confronted by their Japanese invaders during the Occupation Period 1942-45.

sakit: sick. (M)

sana: over there. (M)

saree or sari: Indian women’s main garment of wear, composed of at least five yards of cotton, silk, or material of a synthetic nature wrapped round and tapering down the lower part of the body, one end of which is slung round the shoulders over a tightly-fitting bodice of cotton or silk, often displaying an empty midrift space.

sarong-kebaya: Malay women’s two-piece national costume, composed of a tapering (even transparent) long bodice, buttoned or held together by broaches right down the middle, over a tightly-wrapped and tapering down sarong of batik design.

sial: unlucky, ill-omened. (M)

singsing: to turn up or have the sleeves rolled up. (M)

songkok: velvet foldable oblong cap or skullcap worn by Malay men. (M)

susah: difficult. (M)

tidak apa-apa-titude: coined portmanteau word meaning " never-mind-ness" derived from the Malay of tidak-apa or never-mind or doesn’t matter or even "think nothing of it". (M)

topi: domed sun hat. (M)

Tumasik-Sinkehs: "Tumasik" is the "ancient" name for Singapore, and "Singkeh", meaning a newly-arrived labourer from China, is therefore a term used derogatorily to refer to the local Chinese.

ulu (hulu): the hinterland, upriver waters; orang hulu: upcountry dwellers. (M)

vadai, chambal and sambar: Tamil spicy doughnut served with chilly-cum-coconut paste (chambal or cambal) and thin spicy dhal sauce (sambar.) (T)

wayang: show, play or opera (M). Chinese Wayang: noisy traditional Chinese opera.


© T. Wignesan 2001-02, Paris

Created on 18 March 2006.
Last update on 18 March 2006.

PageKeeper:
Chung Chee Min cmchung@excite.com