As a foreigner, what level of Balinese should I use?

The first thing to remember is that Balinese are going to love it if you try to speak their language. It shows that you want to integrate and it’s also a great way to understand how Balinese think. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you just say whatever you want to whomever you please. In your own culture you probably wouldn’t go up to some old guy and say, “Hey dude, how’s it hanging ya old coot!” right?

What complicates things a little is the caste system. Outsiders or lower castes are expected to speak more politely to someone of higher caste. Many Balinese kids also speak more polite language to their parents. Balinese who have just met will use more polite language before they know what level they should be speaking on. Younger people will speak differently than older people, and their sentences may be peppered with Indonesian words. The elderly people respected in society will probably ask, “Ragane ring dija melinggih?” (lit.“Where do you sit?”), when they first meet, to check out what caste they are.

Where do foreigners fit in? Let’s remember that most foreigners will not have a great command of Balinese. They are tons of expats who have lived in Bali for decades but still retain their foreign accents and grammatical structures. In fact, perhaps because Balinese is less accessible and applicable than Indonesian, not that many speak it too well. Being a learner means it’s always a good idea to err on the side of caution, so it’s better to speak over-politely than less. Then you avoid offending anyone or making a mistake with someone of caste. The safest type of Balinese to speak is medium level (Basa Madia). It is also currently the most fashionable level of speech.

Even though Balinese can be tricky to get your tongue around, be comforted in the fact that there will always be someone near by more than happy to help you out, and practice their English along the way!

Copyright@ Kulture Kid 2006
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