Directory - Bali and Lombok - page 176

Language

English is common in the tourist areas,
and is usually spoken very well. Many Bali-
nese in the tourist industry also have a
smattering (or more) of German, Japanese,
French and/or Italian. A few older people
speak Dutch and are often keen to practise
it, but if you want to travel in remote areas,
and communicate with people who aren't
in the tourist business, it's a good idea to
learn some Bahasa Indonesia.

CONTENTS

Who Speaks What Where? 373

Bahasa Bali 373

Bahasa Indonesia 374

Pronunciation 375

Accommodation 375

Conversation & Essentials 376

Directions 376

Lombok
Most people on Lombok speak their own
indigenous language (Sasak) and Bahasa
Indonesia, which they are taught at school
and use as their formal and official mode of
communication. Apart from those working
in the tourist industry, few people on Lom-
bok speak English, and this includes police
and other officials. English is becoming
more widely spoken, but is still rare outside
the main towns and tourist centres.
BAHASA BALI
The national language of Indonesia, Bahasa
Indonesia, is widely used in Bali, but it isn't
Balinese. Balinese, or Bahasa Bali, is an-
other language entirely. It has a completely
different vocabulary and grammar, and the
rules governing its use are much more com-
plex. It's a difficult language for a foreigner
to come to grips with. Firstly, it isn't a writ-
ten language, so there's no definitive guide
to its grammar or vocabulary, and there is
considerable variation in usage from one
part of the island to another. Bahasa Bali
isn't taught in schools either, and dictionar-
ies and grammars that do exist are attempts
to document current or historical usage,
rather than set down rules for correct syn-
tax or pronunciation.
Balinese is greatly complicated by its
caste influences. In effect, different vocabu-
laries and grammatical structures are used,
depending on the relative social position of
the speaker, the person being spoken to and
the person being spoken about. Even trad-

Emergencies 377

Health 377

Language Difficulties 377

Numbers 377

Paperwork 377

Question Words 377

Shopping & Services 378

Time & Dates 378

Transport 378

Travel With Children 379

WHO SPEAKS WHAT WHERE?
Bali
The indigenous language, Bahasa Bali, has
various forms based on traditional caste
distinctions. The average traveller needn't
worry about learning Balinese, but it can be
fun to learn a few words. For practical pur-
poses, it probably makes better sense to
concentrate your efforts on learning Bahasa
Indonesia.
Bahasa Indonesia is the national language,
used in the education system and for all
legal and administrative purposes. It's be-
coming more and more widely used, partly
because of its official language status and
partly because it serves as a lingua franca (a
linking language), allowing the many non-
Balinese now living and working in Bali to
communicate - and avoid the intricacies of
the caste system inherent in Bahasa Bali.
A good phrasebook is a wise investment.
Lonely Planet's Indonesian Phrasebook is a
handy, pocket-sized introduction to the lan-