Note: Bungo
1 2021-03-11T21:29:41+00:00 Jennifer Fraser 404477000adfd4e5c7a1128cfac82e1fc740e8c3 2 2 Explanation of the metaphor of a flower plain 2021-08-03T13:59:05+00:00 Jennifer Fraser 404477000adfd4e5c7a1128cfac82e1fc740e8c3This page is referenced by:
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2021-08-02T19:49:21+00:00
Structure of Pantun
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Formal features of pantun
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2021-08-03T20:09:19+00:00
Pantun is a poetic form found throughout the Malay world, which includes the Minangkabau region, some other parts of Sumatra, parts of Java and Kalimantan, and parts of Malaysia.
There are a number of formal features to the poetic structure. The list below represents them according to Minangkabau understandings and applications of the form.- The lines are eight or nine syllables long.
- They are structured in two equal halves. In saluang, these are referred to as the batang (literally "branch") and isi (literally "content"). In Minang contexts, batang draws on references to the natural environment, specific places, and/or the context of performance. The isi contains the content, which is usually a moralistic or philosophical message. Sometimes, when people quote a pantun, the only include the isi.
- The two halves must having matching rhyme schemes
- The length may range. In saluang, there are examples from four to twenty-four lines total. The most "standard" is probably the 4-line version.
- Janiah aia talago biru
- Nampak dari Koto Malintang
- Piliah mamak nan katuju
- Bungo sakabun nan kakambang.
Syllable Length
- Jan/iah ai/a ta/la/go bir/u
- Nam/pak dar/i Ko/to Mal/in/tang
- Pil/iah ma/mak nan ka/tu/ju
- Bung/o sa/ka/bun nan ka/kam/bang
Formal Structure
1st half: Batang
Janiah aia talago biru
Nampak dari Koto Malintang2nd half: Isi
Piliah mamak nan katuju
Bungo sakabun nan kakambangRhyme Sceme
Batang
- Janiah aia talago biru
- Nampak dari Koto Malintang
Isi
- Piliah mamak nan katuju
- Bungo sakabun nan kakambang.
Scheme
The rhyme scheme is indicated above with the bold text, which is as follows.
a: "u"
b: "ang"
a: "u"
b: "ang"Translation and interpretation
1st half: Batang
Janiah aia talago biru
Nampak dari Koto Malintang2nd half: Isi
Piliah mamak nan katuju
Bungo sakabun nan kakambangBatang
Clear water in the blue pond
Visible from Koto Malintang.
This batang draws on a reference to the natural environment in a specific place. The "talago biru" (blue pond) is a reference to Lake Maninjau, which is visible from the nagari of Koto Malintang.
IsiChoose wisely uncle from
This isi, like all isi, is not thematically connected to the first half. The isi delivers advice using a metaphorical reference, telling the mamak--the maternal uncle, who is historically a more important authority figure over his sister’s children than their own father in the Minangkabau matrilineal system—to choose wisely from the flowers in the garden when picking a bride for his nephew. Here the flower is a metaphor for a young woman.
The flowers in the garden.Another Example
To illustrate the principles, here is a second example which was delivered as part of the song "Pariaman Panjang" at a recording session in 2016 (see this rendition). I heard a variant of it delivered in the same song four days later at a performance in Sariak Laweh, suggesting that it is a pantun baku. This one is twelve lines in length, rather than 4. The rhyme scheme is more complex: abcdef/abcdef.
Batang
- Manih tabunyo rang Piaman
- Dikilang sadiang mandaki
- Urek di lingkah layang-layang
- Daunnyo banyak nan patah
- Patah dek ribuik pagi hari
- Sado nan patah lareh juo
Isi
- Manangih Gunuang Pasaman
- Tambah hanguih Gunuang Marapi
- Taisak Gunuang Singgalang
- Managun aia di lurah
- Cando baniaik kok dak jadi
- Ka tau utang awak di namo
Translation and Interpretation
Batang
The sugar cane of the Pariaman people is sweet
It’s squeezed while walking
The roots are sat on by swallows
The leaves have many that are broken
Broken by strong wind in the morning
All that are broken fall off.Isi
Mt. Pasaman is crying
Mt. Merapi is often smoldering
Mt. Singgalang sobs
The water in streams has stopped flowing
It is like the interest doesn’t come.
We already have a name.
Batang: The batang is relatively descriptive about a place and nature. It talks about the sweetness of sugar cane grown in Pariaman, a way of establishing connection to the place, Pariaman, but also about sugarcane, wind, and birds.
Isi: The mountains here, which are important landmarks in the Minangkabau region, are a metaphor for people: the father is crying, the mother is crying, the whole family and surrounding community is sobbing. But there is a second layer of metaphorical reference. It is a metaphor for an individual who is romantically interested in someone but the interested party does not reciprocate. -
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Rendition: "Pariaman Panjang" 08/01/2015
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"Pariaman Panjang" performed at Malam Bagurau, Suayan.
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Song: "Pariaman Panjang"
Performance: Malam Bagurau for a wedding
Place: Suayan
Date: August 1, 2015
People:- Padendang:
- Te E
- Nor Cingkariang
- Tukang Saluang: Bujang Rao-Rao
Structure:Lyrics:
Pantun 1: Te E
Batang
Minangkabau:
Ka balai mambali kain
Mambali sitin ba karatan
Di Payokumbuah hari akad
Lah dapek kain saukuran
Baguntiang bajaik balun
Dek tuan tolong manyudahkan
Talatak apo kagunonyo
Indonesian:
Ke pasar membeli kain.
Membeli kain satu potong
di pasar Payakumbuah hari minggu
sudah dapat kain satu ukuran
sudah bergunting belum dijahit
dek tuan tolong menyudahkan
terletak apa ke gunanya
English:
Going to the market to buy cloth
To buy a length of cloth
At the Payokumbuah market on Sunday
I got one measure of cloth
It was already cut but not yet sewn
Sir, please help me finish it
To be put into place the use for it.Isi
Minangkabau:
Ambo mandapek kaba angin
Lah kambang si bungo intan
Pamenan allah jo Mohamad
Biarlahnyo bungo larangan
Kumbang baniak nak ka kiyun
Tagak dek balun dapek jalan
Kini mamadang jauah sajo
Indonesian:
Saya mendapat berita.
Sudah kembang si bunga intan
Hadiah Allah dengan Muhammad
Walaupun itu bunga larangan
Kumbang berniat ke sana
Tapi karena belum dapat dijalan
Sekarang memadang dari jauh saja.
English:
I’ve received some news
The bungo intan (jewel of a flower) is already flowering
It's a gift from God
However, it's a forbidden flower.
The bee is interested in searching there
But because he has not yet received any (nectar) in his journey.
He’s forced to look from afar.Interpretation of Pantun 1
Batang: This verse is largely descriptive, about buying cloth at the market for a project, and the padendang suggesting the person listening should define a need for it. It also makes mention of a specific place.
Isi: This verse could be read on many levels. On one, it can be taken quite literally: a bee looking for nectar in a flower. On another, it could taken metaphorically to mean a man looking for a woman. Finally, the context at this performance offers a different interpretation. When I asked Pak Ketua why there was so much laughter, he explained that Te E, a dear friend of his, was teasing him specifically through this lyric. She was inferring that he was the bee and that I was the sparkly flower. - Padendang:
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Text: The Bee and the Flower
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The Bee and the Flower is a pantun baku
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2021-08-03T19:40:13+00:00
The following pantun is an example of a pantun baku ("a frozen verse") or stock verse that many padendang and audience members know. While technically the two halves are not attached to each other except through the rhyme scheme and one can theoretically exchange out a batang for another, in a pantun baku the two halves are typically connected. Once a padendang has started delivering a specific pantun, the audience knows what isi will be delivered. I heard this pantun in a number of contexts: the metaphoric meanings are consistent, but sometimes implied to hold to a specific instance.
All the instances where this text was noticed are tagged. Note that it is often but not always used in the same song.Batang
Minangkabau:
Ka balai mambali kain
Mambali sitin ba karatan
Di Payokumbuah hari akad
Lah dapek kain saukuran
Baguntiang bajaik balun
Dek tuan tolong manyudahkan
Talatak apo kagunonyo
Indonesian:
Ke pasar membeli kain.
Membeli kain satu potong
di pasar Payakumbuah hari minggu
sudah dapat kain satu ukuran
sudah bergunting belum dijahit
dek tuan tolong menyudahkan
terletak apa ke gunanya
English:
Going to the market to buy cloth
To buy a length of cloth
At the Payokumbuah market on Sunday
I got one measure of cloth
It was already cut but not yet sewn
Sir, please help me finish it
To be put into place the use for it.Isi
Minangkabau:
Ambo mandapek kaba angin
Lah kambang si bungo intan
Pamenan allah jo Mohamad
Biarlahnyo bungo larangan
Kumbang baniak nak ka kiyun
Tagak dek balun dapek jalan
Kini mamadang jauah sajo
Indonesian:
Saya mendapat berita.
Sudah kembang si bunga intan
Hadiah Allah dengan Muhammad
Walaupun itu bunga larangan
Kumbang berniat ke sana
Tapi karena belum dapat dijalan
Sekarang memadang dari jauh saja.
English:
I’ve received some news
The bungo intan (jewel of a flower) is already flowering
It's a gift from God
However, it's a forbidden flower.
The bee is interested in searching there
But because he has not yet received any (nectar) in his journey.
He’s forced to look from afar.Interpretation of Pantun
Batang: This text is largely descriptive, about buying cloth at the market for a project, and the padendang suggesting the person listening should define a need for it. It also makes mention of a specific place.
Isi: This text could be read on many levels. On one, it can be taken quite literally: a bee looking for nectar in a flower. On another, it could taken metaphorically to mean a man looking for a woman.