Jalak Budo

[Raden Usman Djogja]

Originally Posted by ganjawulung

Dear Raden,....

On the "word forming" also complicated. In "church cemetery" case, "kerk hoff" had changed as "krekop". But in Yogyakarta, there is a famous bridge that called "kreteg kewek" or "kewek" bridge. "Kewek", derived from the dutch word "kerk weg" to mention the bridge in the "church way"....

Event the famous street in Yogyakarta, "Malioboro". Is it original Javanese name? Does it come from the word "Marlboro", the famous fort of Marlboro? And why not "Vredeburg"? If you look at the reality that Fort of Vredeburg is in Malioboro street?

Ganjawulung

dear Gonjo,

I still believe that all "slippery" Jawa words have their roots as you elabotaed above.

In the most extrem example is "Malioboro" street. In my opinion, it should refer to Dutch language and culture rather than English ones. It should not refer to the famous fort of Malboro. Yes, even the was a short era of English occupation during Raffles expedition. In this era, "Pakualaman Castle" lost very sacred keris "Kiai Gumarang" after defeated by Raffles soldiers. Then, the Prince of Pakualaman went to Semarang to beg the keris mentioned above. After Raffles' Lieutenant gave that keris back to Prince Pakualam, the name was changed from "Kiai Gumarang" to "Kiai Wewe Putih". Litteraly, "Wewe Putih" means a white female ghost. It is very famous ghost in hilly countryside. But, Wewe Putih in this case daesnt mean what Jawa people beleive in one ghost. It reffers to "Wewehane Wong Putih" (come from the donation of white people (Englishmen)). So, once Kiai Wewe Putih was occupied by English.

Back to Malioboro
Lets make a similiar comparation of words again as you did

Zuitenborg (original) = Ontosoro (Jawa) = it is Bogor city now
..........org (original) = Malioboro (Jawa)

I still have an assumption that Malioboro came from a dutch word which represent a significant place, situation or anything else at that time. So, it was not fallen from the sky/heaven. However, I dont know from what word either. Perhaps, someone who his mother tongue is dutch may help us.

Back to keris
I hope all kerislovers dont misintepret this discussion (Ganja v. Usmen) as unrelated topic in term of keris waroeng kopi. Hope this discusion gives benefits for a background when we talk further about keris in our beloved waroeng.

warm salam,
Usmen