www.allposters.co.ukMichael Jackson once said: Life is too short to live being a color. I strongly agree with him, there is no point of living in boxes if we want to enjoy life to the fullest. Unfortunately we human tend to point out differences easily, so why not now play a little game to point out similarities?

I pick up on languages now.
My mother tongue language is Indonesian, and I speak just a bit of English (well, at least I'm trying). And now I have 2 biggest homework: to learn Dutch and Portuguese. How does it go? A big mess. I can give you one precious advice: never, I repeat, never, ever try to master 2 new languages at the same time. I have to choose now, and although I really want to be able to speak Dutch fluently, but I chose to focus on my Portuguese.. (hey, I need to survive here in Angola!).

Funny to learn though, that bahasa Indonesia, which is neither Latin rooted (ie. French, Portuguese, Italian, Spanish) or West Germanic rooted (ie. German, English, Frisian, Dutch and Afrikaans), has many words that are similar to dutch words and also portuguese words. Well, based on my limited knowledge and quoting from this source , Portuguese was in Indonesia especially in east part of Indonesia from 1511-1575. That was before the Dutch colony era. Amazing to see that in this relatively short time (66 years), there are some words which are similar in Portuguese and Indonesian. Words that I thought was originally Indonesian, but aparently it was adapted from Portuguese. Here's the list:

Taken from beritakan :

keju = quiejo (cheese)
mentega = manteiga (butter)
sepatu = sapatos (shoes)
jendela = janela (window)
meja = mesa (table)
reparasi = repara-se (repair)
roda = roda (wheel)
dansa = dancar (dance)
sabtu = sabado (Saturday)
minggu = domingo (Sunday)
gereja = igreja (church)
kemeja = camisa (shirt)
ajudan = ajudar (assistant)
natal = natal (christmas)
arloji =relogio (watch)
limau = limao (lime)

And some addition:

Boneka = boneca (doll)
Bendera = bendeira (flag)
Kartu = cartao (card)
Pesta = festa (party)
Belanda = holanda (dutch)
Dua = duas (two)
Sekolah = escola (school)
Bola = bola (ball)
Faktur = factura (invoice)

Quite a lot isn't it? I bet this list is still going on since I've just learned Portuguese 3 months ago.

Let's start with the Dutch words then. We all know that Dutch was in Indonesia for 350 years, so it is obvious that the language has some influence in Bahasa Indonesia. Marthijn was the one who dilligently put the list together in an excel spreadsheet. The list is quite impressive, actually. Here you go:

Some general very common Indonesian words that are obviously from Dutch:

Merek = merk
Oma = oma (grandma)
Opa = opa (granpa)
Tante = tante (auntie)
Oom = oom (uncle)
Lampu = lamp (lamp)
Asbak = asbak (ashtray)
Omset = omzet
Gratis = gratis (for free)
Karcis = kaartjes (ticket)
Ongkos = onkosten (price, for money)
Kulkas = koelkast (refrigerator)
Buncis = boontjes (long green bean)
Arbei = aardbei (strawberry)
Meubel = meubel (furniture)
Halte = halte (bus stop)
Handuk = handoek (towel)
Bioskop = bioscoop (cinema)
Kopper = koffer (suitcase)
Verboden = verboden
Telat = te laat (late)
Reklame = reclame (billboard)
Kelas = klas (class)
Gelas = glas (glass)
Wastafel = wastafel (wash basin)
Wc = wc (toilet)
Stempel = stempel (stamp)
Spanduk = spandoek (promotional banner)
Film = film (movie)
Plat = plaat
Dokter = dokter (doctor)
Suster = zuster (nurse)
Vlek = vlek (stain)
Pleki = vlekkie (a typical dog's name)
Permak = vermaak (repair)
Komentar = commentaar (comment)
Serius = serieus (serious)
Struk = strook (bill, for payment)
Bon = bon (bill, for payment)
Bordil = bordeel (prostitution house)
Segel = zegel
Tropis = tropisch (tropical)
Maag = maag
Amandel = amandel
Pers = pers (press)
Strom = stroom
Steker = stekker
Retsleting = ritssluiting (zipper)
Setel = stel (pair of...)
Semir = smeer
Wortel = wortel (carrot)
Paus = paus (whale, or pope)
Sekrup = schroef
Mur = moer
Kalkun = kalkoen (turkey, the poultry)
Daster = duster (a loose dress used by women at home)
Romel = rommel (mess)
Kortslet = kortsluiting
Peci = petje (small hat).

All car and machine related words:

Rem = rem (brake)
Busi = bougie
As = as
Velg = velg
Ban = band (rubber wheel)
Stir = stuur
Perseneling = versnelling
Selang = slang (hose)
Knalpot = knalpot
Onderdil = onderdeel (spare part)
Helm = helm (helmet)
Kopling = koppeling

Not too difficult for Indonesian and Dutch engineers to communicate, isn't it? :)

And all the words with -si (indonesian), or -tie (dutch), but pronounce the same. These are words that are usually ended by -tion in English.
Televisi = televisie (television)
Polisi = politie (police)
Interpretasi = interpretatie (interpretation)
KomunikasiO
Prestasi
Iritasi
.... Etc... Now you know the game, you can continue yourself.

So what do you think.. Can somebody forward some words that are originally Indonesian? Or can it also be the fact that we were all once connected and that no language is completely independent from others... I don't know the answer.. haven't done any research on Mandarin!