Non-standard Language Across Cultures: Bahasa Unang, The Novel Language from Indonesia



Language, the most crucial thing in human life, is not only a mode of communication but also the most significant development in civilization. As human are always on the never-ending journey of discovery and development, many of them moved to different parts of the world and resided there ever since. Therefore, due to this geographical, cultural, and social differences, language vary across countries. Hundreds of years had passed, a modern civilization where we live now has been built. As the field of science and technology has rapidly advanced to provide convenience for the society, the social and cultural life also moves along with the flow, refusing to the idea of being stagnant. In the past few decades, many countries have created their own non-standard language such as netspeak, leet (written as "1337" in the language), and slangs. Moreover, some countries also developed a language play, such as Pig Latin from the America and Bahasa Unang from Indonesia. This time, I will try to elaborate what Bahasa Unang really is and how to apply it in a word!

Bahasa Unang is a language play from Indonesia that has been used among students and adolescents since mid 2000s, with the purpose of protecting the secret message shared between each other in certain circumstances especially when speaking words of profanity. The complicated structure of Bahasa Unang intrigues me to learn this language play. Moreover, I find the language play so interesting that I want to introduce this language play to people all around the world.

A. Formula of Bahasa Unang

U(a) (b)n(c)ng 

a = last part of the word/last syllable except the vocal sound is changed to “a” sound
b = remaining first part/first syllables of the word
c = original vocal sound of the last part/last syllable

B. Structure of Bahasa Unang and How To Apply It
In short, Bahasa Unang breaks down one word into two parts no matter how many syllables the word consists of*; it separates the last syllable from the first syllable(s)/part. Therefore, the distribution of syllables is slightly changed. Here are some examples of how to apply rules of Bahasa Unang in a word according to the number of syllable and the type of the word.
*(refer to exceptions on point E).

a. 1 syllable*
1. Ya (ya) / yes= uya nang
2. Bel (bel) / bell = ubal neng
3. Si (si) / (a word to define a noun) = usa ning
4. Dong (dong) / (a particle to refer to an information that should have been known by the other party, usually added at the end of sentence) = udang nong
5. Bung (bung) / dude = ubang nung

b. 2 syllables
Irregular words*
1. Kunci (kun.ci) / key = unca kuning  
2. Pentul (pen.tul) / (a type of needle) = untal penung
3. Jilbab (jil.bab) / veil = ulbab jinang
4. Lontong (lon.tong) / Indonesian rice cake dish = untang lonong
5. Cinta (cin.ta) / love = unta cinang

Regular words
1. Segan (se.gan) / disinclined = ugan senang
2. Bisik (bi.sik) / whisper = usak bining
3. Bunyi (bu.nyi) / sound = unya buning
4. Karung (ka.rung) / sack = urang kanung
5. Kaleng (ka.leng) / can = ulang kaneng

c. 3 or more syllables
Irregular words*
1. Berdendang (ber.den.dang) -> (berden.dang) / to sing and have fun = undang berdenang
2. Kenangan (ke.nang.an) -> (kenang.an) / memories = ungan kenanang
3. Guntingnya (gun.ting+nya) / someone’s scissor, the scissor = untang guningnya
4. Sepedanya (se.pe.da.nya) -> (sepe.da+nya) / someone’s bicycle, the bicycle = uda sepenangnya
5. Cincinnya (cin.cin+nya) / someone’s ring, the ring = uncan ciningnya

Regular words
1. Menyapu (me.nya.pu) -> (menya.pu) / to sweep = upa menyanung
2. Menjadi (men.ja.di) -> (menja.di) / to be = uda menjaning
3. Jerigen (je.ri.gen) -> (jeri.gen) / jerry cans = ugan jerineng
4. Terkagum (ter.ka.gum) -> (terka.gum) / amazed = ugam terkanung
5. Menolong (me.no.long) -> (meno.long) / to help = ulang menonong

C. Exceptions

1. If the word only consists of one syllable, the (b) part in the formula (U(a) (b)n(c)ng) is eliminated.
Therefore, the formula becomes U+(the whole word except the vocal sound is changed to “a” sound) + nang/ning/nung/neng/nong (depends on the vocal sound of the word).
In short, the hidden word is whatever comes after “U” but you have to pay attention to the original vocal sound expressed in n(c)ng.
Example:
a. Ya / yes = uya nang
b. Bel / bell = ubal neng
c. Si (a preposition used to define a noun) = usa ning
d. Sang (a preposition used to define a noun) = usang nang
e. Hey / hey = uhay neng

2. In indonesian, there is a “-nya” particle which indicates possession or pronoun attached to a subject or noun like a suffix.
The formula becomes = u(a) (b)n(c)ng+nya.
Example:
a. Ibunya / someone’s mother, a mother = uba inungnya NOT unya ibunang
b. Semuanya / everything = ua semunangnya NOT unya semuanang
c. Sepedanya / someone’s bicycle, a bicycle = uda sepenangnya NOT unya sepedanang

3. As we know, Bahasa Unang separates the last syllable from the first syllable(s). However, if the first part ends with a consonant, that consonant must be joined with the last syllable attached to 'U'.
Example: sebentar, (seben.tar) bantal (ban.tal) karcis (kar.cis)
a. Sebentar / for a moment, for a while = untar sebenang NOT utar sebennang
b. Bantal / pillow = untal banang NOT utal bannang
c. Karcis / ticket = urcas kaning NOT ucas karning

D. Steps To Apply The Formula

1. Beginner
Practice by writing the words down.
Write 'U (ʊ) and 'nang' first, also write the formula if necessary (U(a) (b)n(c)ng).
Break down your words into two parts despite the number of syllables; simply separate the last syllable from the first syllables/part (ex: bernyanyi = ber.nya.nyi -> bernya.nyi / to sing).
Write the last part of the word behind “U” -> unyi.
Write the first part(s) of the word in front of 'nang' -> bernyanang.
As 'u' must be followed by “a” vocal sound, change the vocal sound of the first part (behind “u”) to “a” sound -> unya (need not to change if the original vocal sound is already an “a” sound).
As (c) in n(c)ng represents the original vocal sound of the first part, insert the vocal sound of the first part -> bernyaning.
Result = bernyanyi: unya bernyaning.

2. Intermediate
The rules are internalized mentally, thus the person is able to perceive the hidden message just by hearing it.
Example: when hearing “upa toning”, the person quickly understands that it is "topi" (hat) by focusing on what comes after 'u' and before 'ning'.
Upa toning -> topi = after focusing on certain parts, the person quickly places the part before “ning” to the front, places the part after U to the back, and inserts the “ɪ” sound to the last part, changing the vocal sound. (all of the process occurs mentally/in mind).

3. Advanced
Able to understand the hidden meaning quickly (as soon as the speaker talks in bahasa unang).
Memorized all complicated rules and have no problem in applying it.
Example: unja janing = janji (promise), ukan selonangnya = selokannya (the drainage).

E. Practice Sentences

1. Pagi hari ini cerah sekali. (It is so sunny today.)
Ans: Uga paning ura haning una ining urah cenang ula sekaning.

2. Ban sepedanya bocor. (The bicycle got a flat tire.)
Ans: Uban nang uda sepenangnya ucar bonong.

3. Dia menyanyikan lagu wajib nasional Indonesia. (He/she is singing Indonesian national anthem.)
Ans: Ua dinang ukan menyanyinang uga lanung ujab waning unal nasionang ua indonesinang.

4. Chan berjanji akan datang tepat waktu. (Chan promised to arrive on time.)
Ans: Uchan nang unja berjaning ukan anang utang danang upat tenang ukta wanung.

5. Aku ingin menjadi pilot atau pramugari. (I want to be a pilot or stewardess).
Ans: Uka anung ungan ining uda menjaning ulat pinong ua atanung/utaa anaung* ura pramuganing.

F. Ambiguous Parts

What if the syllable contains two vocal sounds? Example: atau (pronounced ataw). Will it be written as utaa anaung or ua atanung? There is no official explanation or certainty on this yet as there is no expert in this language. 

I hope you enjoyed learning this language play from Indonesia! I am really happy to share the language play from my country to people all around the world (who read this). Do not hesitate to ask me questions if you're still confused of how to apply the rule because yes, I also had a hard time learning this :D. I would also like to know language play from your country, so please leave a comment down below!

See you next time! x

Comments