Malayan phrases

Use this forum to discuss the October 2019 Book of the month, "Skills of the Warramunga" by Greg Kater.
User avatar
Falconcrest
Posts: 440
Joined: 23 Jun 2019, 13:09
Currently Reading: Brass Rail
Bookshelf Size: 200
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-falconcrest.html
Latest Review: Killing Abel by Michael Tieman

Re: Malayan phrases

Post by Falconcrest »

My favorite phrase was "Selamat pagi" I found this extremely interesting the Tagalog phrase "Salamat po" which means thank you, sir, is used as a form of respect for elders. They really are a lot of similarity in linguistics in that region remarkable.
User avatar
briellejee
Posts: 1597
Joined: 25 Aug 2017, 23:40
Currently Reading: Opaque
Bookshelf Size: 292
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-briellejee.html
Latest Review: The Watchmaker’s Doctor by G. M. T. Schuilling

Post by briellejee »

I once made a video for my Malaysian friend and she taught me snippets of the language. I absolutely enjoyed it when I recognized the phrases, especially Selamat pangi and Terima Kasih! However, what I liked most is singa melayu since it pertains to their very own Malayan Lion while others are just greetings.
"All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost"
User avatar
briellejee
Posts: 1597
Joined: 25 Aug 2017, 23:40
Currently Reading: Opaque
Bookshelf Size: 292
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-briellejee.html
Latest Review: The Watchmaker’s Doctor by G. M. T. Schuilling

Post by briellejee »

Falconcrest wrote: 17 Oct 2019, 18:31 My favorite phrase was "Selamat pagi" I found this extremely interesting the Tagalog phrase "Salamat po" which means thank you, sir, is used as a form of respect for elders. They really are a lot of similarity in linguistics in that region remarkable.
Woah! I am a Filipino and it's interesting that this phrase is always the one that sticks to foreigners. I do think there is a certain similarity in the language. :techie-studyingbrown:
"All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost"
User avatar
Howlan
Posts: 1985
Joined: 01 Oct 2019, 08:15
Favorite Book: Looking for Alaska
Currently Reading: War Graves
Bookshelf Size: 122
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-howlan.html
Latest Review: The Soviet Comeback by Jamie Smith

Post by Howlan »

Nuel Ukah wrote: 17 Oct 2019, 15:29
Howlan wrote: 10 Oct 2019, 03:43 There is a whole lot of Malayan phrases used which really lit up the plot and made the story much more relatable and refreshing. Phrases like "Singa Melayu" ( Malayan Lion) , "selamat pagi"(good morning), ‘selamat petang’ (good afternoon) and so on. Which one was your favorite?
I don't have any favorite phrase. I just like how the Malayan language adds color to the tale, making the story more real.
Yes, I understand. For me too, the addition of Malayan phrases really lit up the whole story.
User avatar
Poppy Drear
Posts: 534
Joined: 10 Mar 2018, 02:34
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 147
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-poppy-drear.html
Latest Review: Five of Pentacles by Anna Munson

Post by Poppy Drear »

I don't know if I have a favorite, but I love that the author actually did enough research to include these phrases so well. I have a very, very minimal level of understanding of Spanish and German, and it always bothers me when authors mangle words in those languages. It doesn't come up too much, but those details can be pretty jarring when they're wrong.
User avatar
briellejee
Posts: 1597
Joined: 25 Aug 2017, 23:40
Currently Reading: Opaque
Bookshelf Size: 292
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-briellejee.html
Latest Review: The Watchmaker’s Doctor by G. M. T. Schuilling

Post by briellejee »

ViziVoir wrote: 19 Oct 2019, 16:05 I don't know if I have a favorite, but I love that the author actually did enough research to include these phrases so well. I have a very, very minimal level of understanding of Spanish and German, and it always bothers me when authors mangle words in those languages. It doesn't come up too much, but those details can be pretty jarring when they're wrong.
Same here! I have also a minimal level of understanding of Korean and Japanese, and I once read a book that pertains to Korean history and some were wrong. I doubt the author did research on that thing. Anyways, I took my time in showing my Malaysian friend the phrases in this book and she said it’s legit. She became interested with the book as well. I guess incorporating native phrases indeed make the book credible and interesting.
"All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost"
Nikolas Farmakis
Posts: 786
Joined: 29 Sep 2019, 04:18
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 285
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-nickolas-farmakis.html
Latest Review: Cynthia and Dan by Dorothy May Mercer

Post by Nikolas Farmakis »

My favourite Malayan phrase is ‘terima kasih’, which means thank you. It is wonderful to learn bits and pieces of new, aboriginal languages.
User avatar
Stephanie Elizabeth
Previous Member of the Month
Posts: 2989
Joined: 18 Jul 2018, 15:41
Currently Reading: We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
Bookshelf Size: 212
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-stephanie-elizabeth.html
Latest Review: Do You Remember Me? by Wm M Crouch

Post by Stephanie Elizabeth »

I like how the author was able to incorporate these terms into the story; My favorite was 'selamat pagi'
Halima Lawan
Posts: 25
Joined: 13 Aug 2019, 15:31
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 23
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-ummiii.html
Latest Review: 28 Disastrous Dates: A (Mostly True) Humourous Memoir by Poppy Mortimer

Post by Halima Lawan »

I liked how the author included all these phrases it made the book more colorful
I liked the phrase selamat malam (good night).
User avatar
CommMayo
Previous Member of the Month
Posts: 1648
Joined: 22 Oct 2017, 14:19
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 80
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-commmayo.html
Latest Review: Changed by Vicki Stiefel
Reading Device: B00G2Y4WNY

Post by CommMayo »

I love it when books introduce foreign languages. I like it even more when it is an audiobook and I don't need to guess about how to pronounce the words.
User avatar
Nerea
Posts: 2724
Joined: 11 May 2018, 05:13
Favorite Author: William H. Coles
Favorite Book: Diamond and Pearls
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 672
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-nerea.html
Latest Review: Little White Lies by JC Anderson
Reading Device: Laptop
fav_author_id: 89641
Signature Addition: No Wahala

Post by Nerea »

I wouldn't say I have a favorite Malayan phrase for the reason that they were difficult for me to pronounce the phrases during my reading. I found them a bit distracting.
"Regular reading improves your grammar."
No Wahala
User avatar
Nerea
Posts: 2724
Joined: 11 May 2018, 05:13
Favorite Author: William H. Coles
Favorite Book: Diamond and Pearls
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 672
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-nerea.html
Latest Review: Little White Lies by JC Anderson
Reading Device: Laptop
fav_author_id: 89641
Signature Addition: No Wahala

Post by Nerea »

Nickolas Farmakis wrote: 20 Oct 2019, 05:35 My favourite Malayan phrase is ‘terima kasih’, which means thank you. It is wonderful to learn bits and pieces of new, aboriginal languages.
I wish I had an attitude like yours (having an interest to learn a new tongue). I'm glad you enjoyed the phrases.
"Regular reading improves your grammar."
No Wahala
User avatar
Noosh
Posts: 355
Joined: 09 Apr 2019, 10:05
Favorite Author: T J KLune
Currently Reading: Wise Blood
Bookshelf Size: 262
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-noosh.html
Latest Review: The Narrow Gate by John Servant
fav_author_id: 17951

Post by Noosh »

I had fun with selamat pagi. Mostly because when we watched the Japanes anime “nichijou”, one of the characters used this phrase a lot and it made us laugh.
It was good to know that it was a Malayan word and that it meant good morning.
“Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them.”
Lemony Snicket
User avatar
Charlyt
Posts: 527
Joined: 09 Oct 2018, 00:48
Favorite Book: The Night Circus
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 103
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-charlyt.html
Latest Review: Worldlines by Adam Guest

Post by Charlyt »

I liked "terima kasih" which means thank you because I think basic phrases like that are very useful and should be one of the phrases other people should learn first. I really commend the author for the skillful and what seemed like accurate use of foreign languages in the story. It shows that the author respects their cultures and it makes the narrative more realistic.
"It is neither fair nor unfair, Nobody Owens. It simply is." -NG
User avatar
naomisorge
Posts: 50
Joined: 10 Sep 2019, 03:33
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 7
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-naomisorge.html
Latest Review: The MISOGI Method by Jody B. Miller

Post by naomisorge »

My favourite was "terima kasih" - thank you (not sure if I've spelled it correctly!)
Post Reply

Return to “Discuss "Skills of the Warramunga" by Greg Kater.”