In Sasak culture, non-verbal communication plays a crucial role in social interactions, with specific gestures and body language conveying important social cues. Touch is used to express solidarity and camaraderie, often seen through light touches on the arm or shoulder during informal conversations.
Sasak Example: In the word "bengong" (to stare), pronounced /bə.ŋoŋ/.
Example: Like the 'ng' in English "singing."
IPA: /ŋ/
Nasal 'ng'
Cultural Reflection
Cultural Practices
Cultural Aspect: Highlights the historical heritage of the Sasak people, connecting the language to their ancient kingdoms and the pride in their ancestry.
Phrase: Selaparang (traditional kingdom)
Cultural Aspect: Refers to the annual festival where Sasak people gather to catch sea worms, believed to be the reincarnation of a legendary princess. The festival celebrates prosperity and is an important cultural event.
Word: Bau Nyale (sea worm festival)
Customs
Cultural Aspect: Reflects the communal spirit in Sasak society, where collaboration in farming, building houses, or community activities is valued.
Word: Besiru (collaboration)
Cultural Aspect: Represents the traditional marriage custom of the Sasak people, including practices like "nyolong" (the groom 'kidnapping' the bride as a sign of intention to marry).
Phrase: Merarik (marriage)
Cultural Aspect: Indicates the importance of traditional attire in daily life, often worn during ceremonies or special occasions.
Word: Beteng (a type of traditional cloth)
Cultural Aspect: Reflects the communal and patient nature of Sasak culture, where taking time and waiting are integral to daily interactions.
Word: Nggenti (to wait)
Comparison
Sentence Structure Differences
Example: "I eat fish."
Subject-Verb-Object (SVO): English predominantly uses the SVO order.
Example: "Mangan aku ikan" (Eat I fish).
Verb-Subject-Object (VSO): In many sentences, the verb comes first, followed by the subject and then the object, which is quite different from the typical SVO (Subject-Verb-Object) order in many Western languages.
Pronunciation Differences
Vowel Sounds: English contains a wider range of vowel sounds and diphthongs that do not exist in Sasak, making pronunciation particularly challenging for learners.
Home/School Language (e.g., English):
Consonant Pronunciation: Sasak has distinct pronunciations for certain consonants; for example, the 'c' is pronounced as a 'ch' sound.
Grammar Differences
Noun Phrases: Indonesian grammar often emphasizes noun phrases and uses a set of prefixes and suffixes that alter the meaning of the root nouns, such as "ke-" for directional purposes or "peng-" to indicate an agent doing the action.
Verb Focus: Sasak grammar often uses verb prefixes to indicate nuances in mood or aspect, which might not be present in other languages. For example, adding "ber-" to a root word can change its meaning to an ongoing action.
Vocabulary Differences
Unique Words: Indonesian has words like "kamu" (you) which are used routinely and differ significantly from the Sasak pronouns.
Home/School Language (e.g., Indonesian):
Unique Words: Sasak contains unique lexicons that might not have direct translations in other languages. For example, "nyong" means "I" or "me," distinct from more common pronouns found in other languages.
Sasak Language:
Words and Phrases
Basics
mane (boy/laki-laki
nine (girl/perempuan)
tegel (hold/pegang
Side (you/kamu)
Tiang (me/saya)
Daily Life
Hatur tampiasin (Thank you/terima kasih)
pire ajin .... iki, amak/ina? (How much is this ..., Mr/Ms? / berapa harga ... ini, bapak/ibu?)
Tiang demen daran .... (i like to eat .../saya suka makan ...)