Bahasa istana is the special register used when speaking to or about Malay royalty. Ordinary words are replaced by court words: a ruler does not makan but santap, does not tidur but beradu, and is not sakit but gering. It appears in news reports, in history and in the classic hikayat.
What your child will learn
- Match everyday words to their court forms
- Use the pronouns beta, patik and baginda
- Understand court words in a sentence
A register of respect
Pronouns change first. A ruler says beta for “I”. A subject addressing the ruler says patik for “I” and Tuanku for “you”. Everyone refers to the ruler as baginda.
Then the verbs: santap (eat), beradu (sleep), bersiram (bathe), bersemayam (sit, reside), berangkat (go), murka (be angry), gering (be ill), mangkat (pass away). A ruler’s words are titah and a gift from the ruler is kurnia.
Example questions
Here are a few questions like the ones in the first quest. Can you solve them?
1. Dalam bahasa istana, “santap” bermaksud…
🏰- makan
- mandi
- tidur
- pergi
Show answer
Answer: makan. “santap” ialah bahasa istana bagi makan.
2. Kata ganti nama diri yang digunakan oleh raja untuk dirinya ialah…
- patik
- saya
- beta
- hamba
Show answer
Answer: beta. Raja membahasakan dirinya “beta”.
3. Dalam bahasa istana, “bersiram” bermaksud…
🏰- makan
- berjalan
- tidur
- mandi
Show answer
Answer: mandi. “bersiram” ialah bahasa istana bagi mandi.
Tips for grown-ups
- Read a short hikayat or a royal news report together and list the court words.
- Retell a fairy tale about a king using santap, beradu and titah.