Routledge Dictionary of Language and Linguistics
Official language of Indonesia, based on Malay (
Malayo-Polynesian), with over 100 million speakers (mostly as a second language).
Characteristics: simple sound system, nominal classifiers (e.g. se-ekor ayam ‘one tail hen’); optional expression of plurals by reduplication of the entire word (e.g. potong ‘piece,’ potong-potong ‘pieces’); well-developed honorific markers by means of ‘distinguishing articles’; developed voice system (marking of transitivity), various passive forms (for nouns vs pronouns, statal passive), no clear class differences between verbs and nouns.
Word order SVO; strict postspecification in the noun phrase. Numerous loan words from Sanskrit and Arabic.
Reference
MacDonald, R.R. and S.Dardjowidjojo. 1967. A student’s reference grammar of modern formal Indonesian. Washington, DC.
This is the complete article, containing 109 words
(approx. 1 page at 300 words per page).
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