As suggested by my good friend Hank @ Kaykuala, whenever possible the wise sayings from Adat Perpatih ( Customary Law from Negri Sembilan ) should be accompanied by an English translation for the benefit of those not conversant in the Malay Language, I append below my first attempt in the translation into English:-
Tegak rumah kerana sendi
Runtuh sendi rumah binasa
Sendi bangsa adalah budi
Runtuh budi runtuhlah bangsa
( The house stands firm because of its joints
When the joints crumble, the house tumbles
The race is strong because of its morals
Once it is gone the race falls )
Adat bersaudara, saudara dipertahankan
Adat berkampung, kampung dipertahankan
Adat bernegeri, negeri dipertahankan
Adat berbangsa, bangsa dipertahankan
( The custom of kinship is strong bonds
The custom of the village is its solidarity
The custom of a State is undivided loyalty
The custom of the race is its integrity )
It is a small village in the kecamatan of Tambusai, Kabupaten Rokan Hulu in the Province of Riau, Sumatra. During the Padri Wars of 1830's , Tuanku Tambusai (aka known as Fakeh Hj Muhammad Salleh ) fought the Dutch forces together with Imam Bonjol and Tuanku Rao in West Sumatra and in Northern Sumatra .The last defence was in Benteng 7 Lapis,Daludalu which fell in 1838. He escaped capture and came to Malaya. He was buried in Rasah in 1882.
3 comments:
I am not familiar with 'sendi' untuk bangunan. How varied Malay words are generally. Why should not DBP take this as a main thrust into forming words instead of picking up Emglish words.
Dear Pakcik,
My assumption is that the term 'sendi' must have been used by the 'tukang rumah' in the olden days when houses were built from timber. Since in the past they did not use 'nails' so the method of ensuring safety of the building was to use interlocking joints. This is just my guess, subject to verification by wooden house-builders which Trengganu is famous for.
Dear Hal,
This is great! I'm taken up by your perfect translation. One must be good in both languages to do full justice. It has that finess as opposed to direct translations. You accomplished it perfectly!
Sorry being late
Hank
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