Jahak vs Jegem: The colourful side of melanau mukah

Photo: Nelson's Adventure

Melanau mukah is one of dialect spoken mainly by the people in the administrative district of Mukah.

Did you know that there is a subtle difference in melanau mukah spoken in the village near the headwaters (Ajok) e.g in Tellian with the melanau mukah spoken in the villages near the estuary (Abak) e.g. Tutus hilir.

In the past these villages are isolated and may at some point at war which each other, the type of melanau mukah they speak are very different.

Fortunately nowadays many melanau in Mukah befriend with each other and the differences in vocabulary are often misunderstood as synonym by the younger generation - Same meaning different word. But for melanau mukah outside Mukah like in Miri division, these differences are still evident.

Here are some examples:

Jahak vs Jegem (to be with/ with, malay: dengan, bersama):

Abak: Jahak
Ajok: Jegem

Example:
Jahak / Jegem sai kaau mapun sibu? - With whom you are going to sibu?

Itou selau vs Ajau (now, malay: sekarang):

Abak: itou selau
Ajok: ajau

Example: Telou makau itou selau/ ajau! - We are going now!

Keman vs Kuman  (from , malay: dari):

Abak: Keman. Also means to eat.
Ajok: Kuman

Example: Keman/ Kuman gan kaau yen? - We are you from?

Dagen vs Lubeang  (inside , malay: dalam):

Abak: Dagen
Ajok: Lubeang

Example: Inou dagen/lubeang  yen? - What is inside here?

Ganjil vs Gajil  (lazy , malay: malas):

Abak: Ganjil
Ajok: Gajil

Example: Ganjil/ Gajil tan rasa kou lau itou - I feel lazy today.

Mun vs Amun  (if , malay: kalau):

Abak: Mun
Ajok: Amun

Example: Mun/Amun kaau mapun kedai, melei segerit gak kou - If you are going to shop, buy me  cigarette.

Enda bei vs Nda bei  (do not have , malay: tiada):

Abak: Enda bei
Ajok: Nda bei

Example: Enda bei/ Nda bei duit kou. - I dont have any money.

Ji an vs Kutan  (how , malay: bagaimana):

Abak: Ji an
Ajok: Kutan

Example: Ji an/ Kutan tan itou? - How is it?

And finally this may cause some misunderstanding :p

Lulok vs Lulok  (to chase after/ to visit , malay: mengejar, melawat):

Akou lok melulok siyen.

Abak: Can mean to chase after OR to visit. Depends on the context. I want to visit him OR I want to chase after him
Ajok: Only means to chase after. I want to chase after him.

By: Nativeglot On 9:18 AM

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The origin of the word RUTIK PAUN

Sarawakians call bread as Roti Paun and in melanau it is called Rutik Paun. Not many knows that the word PAUN is actually originated from the word for Bread "pão" in Portuguese.

The word pão is pronounce similar to PA-UN.

The eastern seaboard of Borneo was charted, though not settled, by the Portuguese in the early 16th century. The area of Sarawak was known to Portuguese cartographers as Cerava.

Bread may be introduced in sarawak by the portuguese or indian traders since the word for bread in Hindi पाव (pāv) and in Gujarati is પાઉં (paauun).

By: Learn Melanau On 5:15 PM

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Perginya Seorang Pejuang Budaya, Pelestari Adat, Pengekal Warisan Melanau

Pada hari ini 19 Januari 2013, remulah Augustine Anyub bin Kusau, bekas Bapa Kaul, telah selamat dikebumikan di tanah perkuburan Kristian Katholik Jalan Oya Mukah.

Augustine Anyub bin Kusau (20.08.1932-16.1.2013)

Remulah Augustine Anyub bin Kusau lahir pada 20 Ogos 1932 telah meninggal dunia pada 16 Januari 2013 pada umur 80 tahun.

Menyediakan persembahan kaul dalam Serahang

Pemergian remulah bukan tanda berakhirnya warisan melanau, tetapi remulah meninggalkan pewaris-pewaris muda yang bakal melestarikan adat dam warisan melanau yang akan berkembang seiring dengan peredaran masa yang senantiasa lurus dengan arusnya yang deras.

Kubur Remulah. Moga rohnya dirahmati selamanya.

Semua photo adalah dari Eduine Kusai.

By: Learn Melanau On 7:51 PM

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Melanau Books:Sarawak Museum Journal LII, No 73 Special Monograph No.9: The Oya Melanau: Traditional Ritual and Belief with a catalogue of belum carvings

If anyone interested to know about pisak radian,piup,bebayuh,pisak ayun, dakan, jerunei, tadal, kaul there is a book from Sarawak museum dedicated 100% for melanau "hidden" culture.

In the book you will find all lyrics in melanau about a lot of traditional ritual and spells.

The book title:

Sarawak Museum Journal LII, No 73 Special Monograph
No.9: The Oya Melanau: Traditional Ritual and Belief with a catalogue of belum carvings
December 1997

Number of pages: 388 Pages with Photos of all types of Dakan/ Belum Spirits like Naga Tellian, Jin tanak, Pontianak

Price: RM 20.00

How to buy:

You can buy the book at Sarawak Museum in Kuching

OR

You can give them a call and order the book. You will have to pay the postal fee. The Sarawak Museum will sent you a letter with payment instruction.

In the letter, the there is an invoice with your order number. You make your payment using a bank draft payable to Sarawak Museum.

Get the receipt of payment from the bank then return the invoice together with the receipt back to the Sarawak museum. After that the Sarawak museum will sent you the book. Easy right :)

This is the contact number of Sarawak Museum.

A list of other Journals can be found here.

Address
Sarawak Museum Department
Tun Abang Haji Openg Road
93566 Kuching
Sarawak, Malaysia.

Office
082 244 232

Fax
082 246 680

Email
webmaster@museum.sarawak.gov.my

Inside the book

Table of Contents

Bebayuh and Kaul Ritual

Wedding and Funeral

Catalogue of Melanau Sickness Image Dakan / Belum

By: Learn Melanau On 10:46 PM

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