Sudanese Dictionary Available: West Java

Travelling in Indonesia it helps to learn some of the language (Bahasa Indonesia) if it’s only for just getting around town, asking for something, or seeking help. When you travel further a field you will notice that the dialect of the island or region is used.

When I first travelled through Sumatra and Java, I was amazed at the number of dialects used. Although now Bahasa Indonesia is commonly used in general conversation, locals still prefer to resort to their dialectic language amongst themselves.

Don’t be dismayed with this or even overwhelmed. Try and learn a little of the dialect. It helps and besides, the locals of any region are more than happy to teach you.

At one time you couldn’t obtain a phrasebook in the Balinese dialect or even the Javanese dialect, but now, both are available. Hot off the press is the new Sudanese language dictionary which will no doubt bamboozle a few of us!.

Most Complete Sundanese Dictionary Launched

A 40 thousand-entry Sundanese Dictionary that was compiled by R.A.Danadibrata was launched last week. The dictionary is viewed as the most complete Sundanese dictionary ever published.

According to President of Padjadjaran University Himendra Wargahadibrata, who is also chief of the team of editors, Danadibrata needed 40 years (1930-1970) to compile the dictionary. It is 2,000 pages and is written on lined foolscap-size paper by hand.

“Three days before he died, Danadibrata handed the manuscript over to me,” said Himendra. The entries consist of root words, reduplication, and combined words, with a very extensive range of meaning: spoken language, earthy language, polite language, dialects and slang.

The Danadibrata dictionary is considered as more complete compared to A Dictionary of the Sunda Language of Java by Jonathan Rigg (1862) with 9,308 entries; or Kamus Basa Sunda by R. Satjadibrata (1948) with 18 thousand entries. In 2003, R.R. Hardjadibrata published Sundanese-English Dictionary with 22,500 entries.

Danadibrata died on October 13, 1987. Born in Ciamis on April 23, 1905, he was appointed a wedana (head of a district) in Garut.

Rana Akbari Fitriawan: TEMPO Interactive, Bandung