Manners in Bali

[Shadrach]

Some remarks on this;

You give a perfect example yourself why Google Translate often sucks. The way it translates to BI is never the way the people would say it. Very often it is made too complicated, too cumbersome. In this case they would just say: “Rumah warna merah”. For translating single words it’s no problem of course.

The order of noun and adjective is quite common in the Romance languages (la maison rouge) so these people could have an advantage. Also don’t forget many words are adopted from Portuguese and especially Dutch. The English speakers have as advantage that the new spelling is easier for them to pronounce.

But what if your talking about a particular house amongst many, and you wanted to be specific about it only?
I can't help myself, but I tend to want to translate sentences, like I would speak in English. That's why I started this post. I was very uninterested in Grammar, same as Algebra! I am So glad so many of you are adding your two cents worth! Suksama!
I don't know of any other resource to help with Translation, except Google? Any suggestions?

 

[jstar]

Appreciate you when write me like this?

Don’t think so right? That’s what you get with Google Translate when you translate from my language into English.

Also, why did you put as title “Manners in Bali”? That’s what most of us were focusing on, to speak in a polite way, to address the locals courteously.

Anyway:
Rumah yang merah itu!

 

[Shadrach]

Appreciate you when write me like this?

Don’t think so right? That’s what you get with Google Translate when you translate from my language into English.

Also, why did you put as title “Manners in Bali”? That’s what most of us were focusing on, to speak in a polite way, to address the locals courteously.

Anyway:
Rumah yang merah itu!

I didn't know what else to say, except this, because I wanted feedback on how to ask, order, things in Bahasa Indonesian. Appreciate you when write me like this) is not proper English. (I appreciate it , when you write to me like this), would be more appropriate. Sorry I am not a highly trained linguist.

 

[El_Goretto]

About minta etc.: That is exactly how you learn it in your BI courses.

And when I paid attention years ago I noticed nobody in my circle of friends and family ever uses it.

But sure, they agreed it was very polite and good of me to use it. I(t) was done very fast after that.

Actually, it was taught to me by a relative. I never took formal lessons. But indeed I always thought it was very formal.

 

[Shadrach]

Actually, it was taught to me by a relative. I never took formal lessons. But indeed I always thought it was very formal.

So I am still uncertain of what to use when asking for something. Should I say for example, if I want a cup of GreenTea. Tolong bawah Saya satu Teh Hijau, atau Boleh Minta Saya Satu Teh Hijau? Or leave out the Saya and the Satu, because they know it's for me, and I only want 1 cup of green tea? I tend to want to speak a sentence like I would in English. It's hard to learn from local People, because they don't know how to explain in English very well! Not growing up with this language, makes it hard to know how to speak their language. Is there some kind of course online to learn how the locals speak to each other, or does the course only teach you how to speak in a formal way?

 

[El_Goretto]

So I am still uncertain of what to use when asking for something. Should I say for example, if I want a cup of GreenTea. Tolong bawah Saya satu Teh Hijau, atau Boleh Minta Saya Satu Teh Hijau? Or leave out the Saya and the Satu, because they know it's for me, and I only want 1 cup of green tea? I tend to want to speak a sentence like I would in English. It's hard to learn from local People, because they don't know how to explain in English very well! Not growing up with this language, makes it hard to know how to speak their language. Is there some kind of course online to learn how the locals speak to each other, or does the course only teach you how to speak in a formal way?

Boleh saya minta teh hijau satu

or

Boleh minta teh hijau satu

or

Minta teh hijau satu

or

Minta teh hijau satu ya bli (with a smile)

 

[Shadrach]

Boleh saya minta teh hijau satu

or

Boleh minta teh hijau satu

or

Minta teh hijau satu

or

Minta teh hijau satu ya bli (with a smile)

I would have said Boleh Minta Teh Hijau Satu Saja, but I see on Google translate they would have used Hanya, instead of Saja. Which I see how both could used. Hanya meaning only, and Saja meaning just. If I asked in English for just one tea. I see only one tea, would work also. And if the Man was Muslim I would have asked Ya Mas! I can see why I didn't like learning Grammar!

 

[john madden]

Don't overcomplicate. "Mas/bli/mbak - teh hijau Satu. Makasih"

 

[merahputih]

I would have said Boleh Minta Teh Hijau Satu Saja, but I see on Google translate they would have used Hanya, instead of Saja. Which I see how both could used. Hanya meaning only, and Saja meaning just. If I asked in English for just one tea. I see only one tea, would work also. And if the Man was Muslim I would have asked Ya Mas! I can see why I didn't like learning Grammar!

"Mas" = older brother. It comes from Javanese language and is used to address a man politely, even if the man younger than you are. Not all "mas" are moslem.

Teh hijau or green tea is fine. I'm sure everybody in Bali understand what "green tea" is. For popular food name you don't have to translate it.

 

[john madden]

Use Bli in Bali unless you're sure he's from Java

 

[Shadrach]

Use Bli in Bali unless you're sure he's from Java

Yes I know. Thank you

 

[jstar]

I would have said Boleh Minta Teh Hijau Satu Saja, but I see on Google translate they would have used Hanya, instead of Saja. Which I see how both could used. Hanya meaning only, and Saja meaning just. If I asked in English for just one tea. I see only one tea, would work also.

For a waiter it’s completely irrelevant you want ‘only’ one. The word one is thus enough.

You think too much about English which is a descriptive language. While Bahasa Indonesia is much more of a concise language. Using many words is not the purpose and conveys no meaning here.

 

[jstar]

Anecdote: my MIL told me once; “Minta is for beggars”.