The fruit of Indonesia influences the language<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Fruit has always played an important part in
\nIndonesian culture.<\/p>\n
The significance is evident in the use of fruit in the
\nIndonesian language. In its most simple form, the Indonesian word
\nfor fruit buah is used as a unit of measure for most objects,
\nparticularly whole objects. For example, satu buah buku (a book),
\nsatu buah botol (a bottle) and so forth.<\/p>\n
Used in conjunction with other words, fruit is also used
\nsymbolically or euphorically. In conjunction with another object,
\nthe word is used to mean \"produce of the object\". Buah hati
\n(fruit of the heart) is used to mean loved one, buah tangan
\n(fruit of the hands) means gifts from a trip, buah bibir (fruit
\nof the lips) object of conversation or gossip, buah pena (fruit
\nof the pen) a piece of writing, and buah pikiran (fruit of
\nthought) means opinion.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, fruit is also used in a slightly different
\nconnotation in buah dada (fruit of the chest), meaning breasts,
\nand anak buah (children of fruit), meaning subordinates.<\/p>\n
Fruit is also used to describe colors. The delima, jambu,
\nlangsat and sawo fruit, specify tones of brown, red and yellow.
\nKulit sawo matang, (the color of a ripe sawo fruit) is commonly
\nused to define the skin color of Indonesians. Yellowish skin
\ntones are referred to as kuning langsat (yellow of the langsat
\nfruit). Bibir merah delima (lips the color of a pomegranate)
\nenhances the beauty of Indonesian women.<\/p>\n
There are a number of Indonesian expressions related to fruit,
\nsuch as the proverb associated with pinang (betel nut). Seperti
\npinang dibelah dua literally means a betel nut cut in two, or
\nmore colloquially, like two peas in a pod. The Javanese describe
\nthe chubby cheeks of an attractive woman as being \"the shape of
\nmango\". The expression \"seperti memakan buah simalakama\" (\"like
\neating the fictional simalakama fruit\") suggests a dilemma in
\nwhich death will occur whether or not the fruit is eaten.<\/p>\n
The place of fruit in the Indonesian language ranges from the
\nsimplest unit of measure to a mind boggling no-win situation.<\/p>\n
-- Amir Sidharta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-fruit-of-indonesia-influences-the-language-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }