Today we are going to learn about how the melanaus address members in their family.
First of all here is a basic word list:
| English | Malay | Melanau |
| Father | Ayah | Tama |
| Mother | Emak | Tina |
| Son | Anak lelaki | Aneak lai |
| Daughter | Anak Perempuan | Aneak mahou |
| Grandfather | Datuk | Tipou lai |
| Grandmother | Nenek | Tipou mahou |
| Grandson | Cucu lelaki | Sou lai |
| Granddaughter | Cucu perempuan | Sou mahou |
| Brother | Abang | Akak* |
| Sister | Kakak | Akak* |
| Uncle | Bapa Saudara | Tuak |
| Aunt | Emak Saudara | Tebusou |
| Cousin | Sepupu | Jipou |
| nephew | Anak Saudara ( Lelaki) | Naken lai |
| niece | Anak Saudara ( Perempuan) | Naken mahou |
| firstborn | Anak Sulung | Apah tika lalu |
| lastborn | Anak Bongsu | Apah tadei lalu |
| adopted child | Anak Angkat | Aneak Ihou |
| stepchild | Anak Tiri | Aneak Tiheak |
* the word sister and brother are the same in melanau: akak.
It is not same as kakak (malay for sister)
Form of address in a melanau family:
One addresses his or her mother: Inak or Sinak ( English: mum or mama )
One addresses his or her father: Apak or Ma or Sema ( English: dad or papa )
One addresses his or her grandmother: Mak Nek or Mak Ayeng ( English: Nana or Grandma)
One addresses his or her grandfather: Pak Nek or Apak Ayeng ( English: Grandpa )
If one addresses his or her uncles or aunts, it should be according to the order of birth:
- Firstborn: Wa
- 2nd Born: Anjang
- 3rd child or Middle Child: Angah or Ngah
- Others that are younger than the middle child: Cik
- 2nd to lastborn: Udak
- lastborn: Usu
The address form can be used for both uncle and aunt. For example:
Aunt Marie ( 1st born) = Wa Marie
Uncle Sam ( 1st born) = Wa Sam
Aunt Emily ( 4th born ) = Cik Emily
Uncle John ( 4th born) = Cik John
Among siblings (Janeak, adik beradik) there are no specific address form. Normally first name or nickname will be used.
Special case: Suffix of -m. ( Imbuhan Akhiran -m)
Tama, Tina, Tipou, Tebusou have special 2nd person possessive form.
Tina:
Your mother = Tinam and NOT Tina nou ( nou means your )
Eg:
Gan tinam? - Where is your mother?
Tama:
Your father = Tamam and NOT Tama nou
Eg:
Gan tamam? - Where is your father?
Tipou:
Your grandfather = Tipum lai and NOT Tipou lai nou
Eg:
Gan tipum lai? - Where is your grandfather?
Your grandmother = Tipum mahou and NOT Tipou mahou nou
Eg:
Gan tipum mahou? - Where is your grandmother?
Tebusou:
Your aunt = Tebusum and NOT Tebusou nou
Eg:
Gan tebusum? - Where is your aunt?
Written by Learn Melanau
Learn Melanau by Nativeglot.com provides insider information about melanau unique cultures and language
where to put "mik", "yak"? all of this actually modern / pre-modern form of addressing relatives.
ReplyDeletethe old form of address esp. among tuak & tebusou always begin with amam/mam/ma & inak/nak, eg. mam umik for the youngest uncle, nak alou/ ma alou for the taller aunt/unc, or combined the form of address with name/nick name, eg mam ati to address uncle name meratim, nak iti to adress aunt name kitam,
It depends on which melanau dialect/area you are from. Kuala Rejang area -a father will still be address as Apak and mother -emak.
ReplyDelete