Kedukan Bukit Inscription
1. Introduction
“Svasti sri sakavarsatita 605 (604?) ekadasi su”. The aforementioned is part of writing found in the Kedukan Bukit inscription which was found on November 29th, 1920 A.D. The inscription mentions Saka new year 605 which is estimated during 683 A.D. The meaning of the writing above is “Greeting. Saka year 605, day 11.”
The inscription is the oldest inscriptions written in the ancient Malay language that is found so far. According to some experts, although the inscription is written in the ancient Malay language, many Sanskrit words are inserted in it, such as the word vulan which means moon. Even, the letters used are Pallawa, Sanskrit letters. Some younger inscriptions such as Talang Tuwo which was found near Palembang (684 A.D, in Pallawa), Kota Kapur in Bangka Island (686 A.D, in Pallawa), Karang Brahi in Meringin, Hulu Jambi (686 A.D in Pallawa), Gandasuli in Central Java (832 A.D in Nagari) and Keping Tembaga Laguna, near Manila, Philippines are just the same.
Although the dominant influence of Sanskrit had abated since the 14th century A.D, we could still trace some of its influences. Such fact makes it interesting to conduct further study to know whether Sanskrit influences ancient Malay or not.
2. The Sanskrit
Sanskrit is a classic language that once was used in India. The language is now archaic and is only used in the holy book (Hinduism-Buddhism). It is written in the Pallawa or Dewanagari letters. The existence of Sanskrit in the Indonesian Archipelago can be proved by the inscriptions that have been found so far. Most of them are from the 7th to the 9th century A.D. It can be said that the Sanskrit showed its influence at those times.
The Sanskrit‘s influence came with merchants, religion public figures, and freedom that the Kingdom gave for the language to grow and be used side by side with the ancient Malay language.
Nevertheless, as Muhadjir (2000) said, the evidences of language existence are not enough, especially if it is seen from the long span of time. Probably, said Muhadjir, the proves were terminated because of the society‘s (at that time) religion/ belief change.
3. The Sanskrit Phonology
Sanskrit phonology is below:
The vocals consist of 7 short vocals and 6 long vocals, while the consonants consist of 26 consonants. Malay language only has 6 vocals and 19 consonants.
a. Vocals
- /a/, /i/, /u/, /r/, /l/, /e/, and /o/. (Both vocal phonemes /r/ and /l/ do not exist in the ancient Malay language)
- /a:/, /I:/, /u:/, /r:/, /l:/, /ai/, and /au/. (All long phonemes do not exist in the ancient Malay language).
b. Consonants
- /k/, /g/, /c/, /j/, /t/, /d/, /t/, /d/, /p/, /b/. (phonemes /t/ and /d/ do not exist in the Malay language).
- Retroflex with aspiration
- /kh/, /gh/, /ch/, /jh/, /th/, /dh/, /th/, /dh/, /ph/, /bh/. (The sounds do not exist in Malay consonants group because these sounds had undergone adjustment).
- /ŋ/, /ñ/, /n/, /n/, /m/. (The Malay language do not have nasal).
c. Semi vocals
d. Sibilant/ sound of hissing
e. Others
4. The Ancient Malay Language in The Influence of Sanskrit
a. Phonology
The Malay language made some adjustments in vocal phonemes and consonant phonemes to deal with the phonology differences. The adjustment in vocal phonemes happened in the long phonemes; all long vocals in Sanskrit changed into short ancient Malay vocals. While adjustment in consonant phonemes happened like these:
- Vocal /r/ in Sanskrit is pronounced /rə/ or /‘ər/, while in the Malay language, it becomes /ri/ or /rə/. Sanskrta (sanskrit) itself is spelled Sansekerta and pronounced [sansəkərta] in Malay/Indonesian, but it is spelled Sanskrit and pronounced [sænskrIt] in India.
- Retroflex consonants in which the Malay language does not have their synonyms, are adjusted to dental consonants e.g. /t/, /d/ become /t/, /d/
- Sibilant (hissing sound) that has a few sounds in Sanskrit, only has one in Malay, so /ksatriya/ is pronounced [ksatrIa]. Although retroflex sibilant/palatal is written in syin letter ش, /ksatriya is spelled کشتريا.
- Semi vocals /y/ and /w/ in the beginning position are changed into /j/ and /b/. e.g. the words “jantera” (wheel), “bareksa” (guard), “berita” (news) and “bicara” (talk)
- Anusvara /m/ (/m./) in the Malay language is pronounced /ŋ/ or homorgan nasal.
- Many consonants got inspiration from the Sanskrit such as dh in /siddhayatra/
- The hissing sound /s/ in /bhāsa/ is adjusted and becomes /bahasa/.
b. Vocabulary
The phonology adjustment was one of the ways that the Malay language had to undergo in dealing with the influence of Sanskrit. Another adjustment was by borrowing/ absorbing. Many Sanskrit words were taken and used in the ancient Malay language. Even today those words are still used. In one side, the Malay language had undergone phases of transition. In the other side, there is a shift in its phonology and semantic (meaning).
Indeed the proves of how deep Sanskrit rooted in the ancient Malay could be seen through many inscriptions that were found as it was mentioned above, but the using of the Sanskrit words in the Malay/Indonesian language until today is a prove of Sanskrit roots. Even, today it is difficult to recognize which words coming from the Sanskrit because there are many of them. A source said that there are more than 800 Sanskrit words still used in the Indonesian language.
These are the words that were used since 1303 A.D in Terengganu where an inscription that had the Sanskrit words on it was found:
| Malay Language | Malay Language |
| derma (good deed) | suami (husband) |
| acara (occasion) | raja (king) |
| bumi (earth) | bicara (to talk) |
| keluarga (family) | atau (or) |
| denda (fine (noun)) | agama (relogion) |
| merdeka (free) | bendara (flag) |
| menteri (minister) | isteri (wife) |
| seri paduka (Your Majesty) |
|
Trengganu inscription, from 1303 A.D
5. Others
These italic words were written in an ancient Malay inscription and the Malay/Indonesian meanings are in the quotation mark. The phonology difference between them is not many.
Vulan ‘bulan‘ = moon
Nayik ‘naik‘ = go up
Samvau [sampau] ‘sampan‘ = boat
Mengalap ‘mengambil‘ (mencari) = taking (looking for)
Marlapas ‘berlepas‘ = go free
Mamava ‘membawa‘ = carrying
Vala ‘bala (balatentara)‘ = army
Laksa ‘menyatakan jumlah tak terkira‘ = uncountable amount (ten thousands)
Dangan ‘dengan‘ = with
Sarivu ‘seribu‘ = a thousand
Tlu; telu ‘tiga‘ = three
Sapuluh dua; sepuluh dua ‘dua belas‘ = twelve
Vanakna ‘banyaknya‘ = amount
Sukhacitta ‘sukacita‘ = joy
Marvuat ‘berbuat‘ = to do
Vanua; benua ‘negeri‘ = country, land
Ko ‘ke‘ = to.
Sources:
- Collins, James T. 2005. Bahasa Melayu Bahasa Dunia Sejarah Singkat (translated by: Evita Elmanar). Jakarta: Yayasan Obor Indonesia.
- http://www.apakabar.ws/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1091&Itemid=88888889
- http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0705/p14s02-lihc.html
- http://www.indo.net.id/mbs/Buana_Nusantara_Masa_Purwa.htm
- Muhadjir. 2000. Bahasa Betawi: Sejarah dan Perkembangannya. Jakarta: Yayasan Obor Indonesia.
- http://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kata-kata_pinjaman_dari_bahasa_Sanskrit_dalam_bahasa_Melayu_dan_bahasa_Indonesia_Modern
Credit photo :
- www.gippsland.monash.edu.au
- id.wikipedia.org
(TL/DW/ter/22/01-08)
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