Keris Tindih -- The Neutralizer

[A. G. Maisey]

Thank you for your detailed response, Raden.

I cannot claim the breadth of experience that you have, I am not a native speaker of Javanese, and in fact I speak Javanese very badly, but I do have a very wide Javanese vocabulary, and can usually follow a Javanese conversation.Additionally, I have some small understanding of Old Javanese.

I have spent time in Jawa every year since around 1966---did miss a couple of years around 1968-1970, and 1980-1981. During the last 25 years my residence has been in Palur, about 8KM or so out of Solo.I returned to Australia from Solo a couple of weeks ago.

The "other native speaker" to whom I referred was my wife or more than 30 years. Since she is currently in Solo---she went back a week or so ago on family business--- I had to ring her to ask her, and when I rang, she gave her answer, but then threw my question to her niece and nephew, who proceeded to give a ten minute lecture on the ways in which these words can be used. If I had not cut the phone call short that lecture would have gone on for half an hour.
Actually, my court of final appeal on any Javanese meanings is my son-in-law, who comes from a slightly elevated family, and whom, by all accounts, uses Javanese to perfection--- a very rare trait at the present time, when all the literary people are telling us that Javanese is dying and that within a generation the only people who will be able to use the language will be professors in universities.

During the time I have spent in Jawa, I have not had any contact with professors, or kyais(when acting in this persona). I have had very considerable contact with people who are members of the keris trade, collectors, ordinary working people, both rural and urban,public servants, and the occasional dukun.
Although I have travelled through probably all of the areas you mention, 98% of my time has been spent in Solo, with the remnant 2% spent in East Jawa around Malang - Kediri.

I would guess that the way in which you use the words under discussion is the product of association with native speakers from a wider geographical area, and social strata that enters a slightly more spiritual zone than that to which I am accustomed.

What I do know is this---and I have my notebooks to ensure that my memory was not decieving me---Empu Suparman Supowijaya used either paku or pasak in conversations with me when discussing this matter of pins inserted into keris blades.It could be argued that this occurred because our conversations were in Indonesian, however, he invariably used Javanese words for all things to do with the keris, even though we were speaking Indonesian.

Again I thank you for adding to my knowledge. The variation in the Javanese language is a thing of endless fascination for me.

[Raden Usman Djogja]

Alan,

Whats?! you have been in Palur since '66. So, you are more native than me. Because at that time, I was still in the top of my father's manggo tree (aku isih neng pucuk wit "pelem"e Romoku).

Actually pelem means manggo. but peleme Romoku does not mean my father's manggo. it is tricky word.

Alan, since now, if there is different perception between us, you are right and I am wrong. The reason is I just started to know some words in '75 (10 years after your existence in Java).

Who is NATIVE? Since we dont inherit this world from our parents but borrow it from our children. I have sensitive feeling with a word NATIVE, especially whenever chatting with my daugther (s). The older one was born in Australia and the younger one was born in Africa a couple of weeks ago. When she feels Australian, I still cannot speak English well. When she wants to be Javanese, here, only her mother and father can understand well her language expression,.... poor. When she wants to be part of her recent classmates (french), I feel that I will be left behind sooner or later. I dont push my daughters to be Javanese since I realize that the world is much more wider than Java Island. I will let them growing up freely. But I have not prepared yet to face its consequence (no more phrase: like father like daughter). Perhaps, this phrase will insult young generation, even actually, meaningful for old generation.

OK... back to laptop/keris

Usmen

[A. G. Maisey]

No, no, Pak Usmen.

I have stayed in Palur for the times I have been in Jawa since about 1982.

Before that I used to stay in a house in a lane off Jalan Kratonan.

Before that I stayed in hotels.

I went to Solo for the first time in about 1974.

I use the word "native" to refer to one's native tongue. For example, I am a native speaker of English, somebody who was born and grew up in France would be a native speaker of French. Your native tongue is Javanese.And being a native speaker of Javanese, you have tricked me with your tricky manggo.One thing is certain, I am most definitely not more Javanese than you. I am 100% Aussie, with a thin veneer of Javanese style, when this is necessary.

Please accept my most sincere congratulations for the recent addition to your family.

[Raden Usman Djogja]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Please accept my most sincere congratulations for the recent addition to your family.

Alan,
thank you very much
Usman

[ganjawulung]

Hi All,

This is another Jalak Budo. The younger one. Probably from Singasari era or even younger. The blade is much bigger than the two first one. And some "sanak" (not too glitters) pamor in its blade. The sheath, also from forest mango wood. And the hilt, Cirebonese in the Islamic kingdom era..