Appendix:Indonesian slang

Main category: Indonesian slang

Indonesian has a rich amount of slang (bahasa gaul), which can vary by region across Indonesia. Indonesian slang, most commonly based on Jakartan speech and the Betawi language, features in informal Indonesian speech and writing. Most Indonesian slang are from standard Indonesian, but there are many instances of slang derived from English, regional languages (Javanese, Sundanese, Betawi, Malay) and Chinese (often Hokkien and Hakka).

Formation

While a majority of Indonesian slang are from borrowing, new definitions, or coinages, Indonesian slang can be derived using various methods, including but not limited to:

1. Puns - Slang are craftily created to be a play on something. One common form of punning slang are those of the Indonesian LGBT community, which can be fairly hard to understand for out-group members.
2. Phonological changes: This includes changing vowels or the monophthongization of diphthongs, by influence of regional languages. Such examples are the change of word-final /a/ in closed syllables into a schwa or [e], from the influence of Javanese and Betawi.
3. Clipping and acronyms - Words are formed by shortening the word. In some cases, the resulting word may be an allusion to popular culture. Clippings and acronyms do not only heavily feature in slang, but it is also common in the standard language, such as in the short names of government agencies, provinces, and names of major roads, usually toll roads.
4. Initialisms - Common or slang terms are abbreviated and pronounced by the name of their letters. This also occurs in standard language.
5. Back slang - Syllables or letters are switched into other positions. Often such slang relate to taboo subject matter, but such slang also heavily feature in the regional slang of Malang.
6. Code-switching - Words from another language, usually regional languages, Chinese and English, are added into a Indonesian sentence. The words may have their spelling changed to follow Indonesian spelling rules or have shifts in meaning.
7. Affixation – Several Indonesian slang are formed by adding affixes to an existing word (including existing slang), usually in forms of group-specific Indonesian slang such as bahasa prokem (from preman plus -ok-), bahasa binan (gay/LGBT slang) and bahasa Jaksel (South Jakartan slang).

Common slang terms

Below is a list of various common Indonesian slang. Regions where the term is most commonly used may be marked such as in region-specific slang that did not have common currency across Indonesia. It is not intended to be exhaustive; only commonly used slang are listed below.

Common phrases

• jamber (standard: jam berapa): what time is it?
• makasih (standard: terima kasih): thank you

Food

• nasgor (standard: nasi goreng): fried rice

Grammar

Indonesian slang also has distinctive grammatical elements from standard Indonesian, such as distinctive modal and discourse particles, pronouns and verb-forming affixes. Usage may vary by region.

Affixes:

• -in - Used to substitute the standard verb suffixes -kan and -i. Borrowed from Betawi.
• nge- - Used to substitute the standard active-voice verb suffix meng-. Borrowed from Betawi.

Particles:

Pronouns:

Chinese-derived pronouns

• gua, gue: I (borrowed from Hokkien via Betawi. standard: saya)
• lo: you (borrowed from Hokkien via Betawi. standard: Anda)

Regional and group-specific slang

LGBT slang

Main category: Indonesian gay slang

Indonesian LGBT slang, known as bahasa binan, is distinguished by its heavy use of punning slang and use of distinctive slang-forming affixes (e.g. -ong, -in-).

Examples:

• bencong, binan - gay man
• lines (standard: lesbian) - lesbian
• mawar (standard : mau) - to want. Punning slang from mawar (“rose”).

Bahasa alay

Bahasa alay is a form of Indonesian slang used by the alay subculture in Indonesia. It usually manifests as a heavily abbreviated and stylized form of Indonesian, making use of letter substitutions and abbreviations for ease in typing short messages such as in SMS messages, online chatrooms and social media. Similar forms of Internet and SMS slang in other languages are Tagalog Jejemon and English leetspeak.