Re: dutch ipa

Jan van Steenbergen wrote:

> This is probably a stupid question that everybody knows the answer to, but I
> have always been wondering: what does this _2_ mean in Indonesian?
It's used to denote reduplication, as in the plural.  In the Singala
example given, _bastu2_ stands for _bastu bastu_, meaning "things"
as opposed to simple _bastu_ which would mean "thing." :)

Roger could probably tell you the real history of it, but I believe
it came from telegrams; since plurality (and other things) in
Indonesian can be indicated with reduplication, it became convenient
in telegrams to use word2 rather than _word word_ which would take
more time and money. :)  It seems that I've read in one of my
Indonesian books that it's discouraged in usual usage but it doesn't
stop anyone. :)

Cheers,
Eamon
____________________________________________________
Robert Eamon Graham              robertg@knology.net

Anugraha banana shundarata dengan bisri bastu-bastu.

                                -- U2, "Grace"

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