Malay Trade and Creole Languages - Betawi Malay

Betawi Malay

Betawi Malay, also known as Jakarta or Java Malay, is a creolized-Malay which is spoken in Jakarta (the modern name for Betawi) and its surroundings. Betawian or Omong Betawi is based on Bazaar Malay (Melayu Pasar) but influenced by various languages such as Javanese, Sundanese (the area is surrounded by Sundanese speaking area), Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, Balinese and others. Betawian creole began to be used after 1750 in Batavia, and replaced Portuguese creole as the lingua franca.

Betawian Malay was also influenced by Chinese-style Malay spoken by the Chinese settlers who had come earlier.

It has now become a very popular language particularly amongst the younger generations in Indonesia due largely to its use on television (such as sinetron or sitcom).

Betawian Malay is divided into two main dialects

• Betawi Kota dialect: Originally spoken within Jakarta with the typical strong e like (ada becomes ade).
• Betawi Udik dialect: Originally spoken in suburban Jakarta, Tangerang, Banten, and Bogor and Bekasi in West Java. It has a strong a like (ada, pronounced adah).

Another Betawi Udik variant is called Betawi Ora, which was highly influenced by Javanese.

There is a significant Chinese community which lives around Tangerang, called Cina Benteng, who have lost their mother tongue. They now speak Betawian Malay.

Examples :

• aye (kota), sayah (udik), gue (informal) : I
• lu (informal or intimate) : you
• iye (strong e, not schwa like Malaysian), iyah : yes
• kagak, ora (udik variant and it is Javanese influence) : no
• Encing mo pegi kemane? : Where will you go, mam?
• Dagangan aye udeh bures, dah : My stuff has been sold out.

Betawi Malay was the ancestor of Cocos Malay.