Bahasa Istana (Palace Language) or Bahasa Dalam (Internal Language) is a Malay sociolect used among the Brunei and Malaysian royal families either for internal communication or when announcing the affairs of the king or sultan.[1] It is a polite language that is used for interactions between individuals of different social groups, such as between nobility and commoners, on both formal and informal occasions.[2]
In the context of Brunei Malay, Bahasa Dalam is better known as Bahasa Raja-Raja or Bahasa Orang Istana.
Bahasa Dalam has been the official language of the Sultan's inner court for generations. The Brunei Bay region has been home to a civilization from the 7th century, according to archeological evidence, and Bahasa Dalam, a social register of Malay, evolved to reflect the monarchy's rank. The existence of the traditional classification that still permeates this sultanate encouraged the development of Bahasa Dalam as a language for communication between individuals of various social classes and still makes it easier to express the complex social divisions between aristocrats, nobles, and commoners.
Bahasa Dalam is not only used by the royal family, but also by people in the upper class who hold titles, important roles in society, or certain positions in the government. Most of those who are proficient in using Bahasa Dalam come from Kampong Ayer and live along the Brunei River.[3] The language sometimes utilises a different vocabulary from the commonly used Brunei Malay. At other times, it uses the more common vocabulary, but is spoken with a lowered tone and intonation, soft, polite and arranged in a figurative context.
When speaking with royalty and nobility, others should utilise Bahasa Dalam as a sign of respect. The language is the language register used by royalty and the palace household. Speaking in Bahasa Dalam is customary in palaces and on ceremonial occasions. In terms of functionality, it consists of expressions with unique connotations that can be used to address or make reference to aristocrats and other members of the royal family. It is known for its courteous, respectful, and refined language. Finally, using metaphor and innuendo to express meaning is one way it is used.
The national MIB philosophy of Brunei is congruent with the continuous utilisation of Bahasa Dalam. In fact, because it is related to all three strands of MIB, it is intimately bound to it. Bahasa Dalam innovations and changes require approval from the Jabatan Adat-Istiadat Negara and are not made arbitrarily. All such modifications must to be extensively communicated to the general public so that they can stay informed about current practices. The language will be utilised as long as there is a monarchy. Nevertheless, despite the limitations of prescriptive regulation, the language remains susceptible to linguistic change, much like other Malay dialects.
Bahasa Istana is a dialect rich in courtesy and politeness. It is used for communication between the royal family and the common people or when talking about the affairs of the ruler and the palace, especially in an official context.[4]
The vocabulary of Bahasa Istana is as follows:[5]
| Bahasa Istana | Malay | English | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Almarhum | Allahyarham | The deceased | |
| ampun kurnia | maaf | sorry | |
| anugerah | beri; hadiah | give; award | |
| baginda | dia (rakyat menyapa raja) | he (people greeting the king) | |
| beradu | tidur | sleep | |
| berangkat | berlepas; bertolak | take off; leave | |
| mencemar duli | berjalan; pergi ke | walk; go to | |
| berkenan | sudi / suka akan | willing / willing to | |
| berputera | melahirkan anak lelaki | gave birth to a son | |
| bersabda | berkata | said | |
| bersiram | mandi | shower | |
| bertitah | berkata / menyuruh | said / ordered | |
| beta | saya (raja) | I (king) | |
| daulat | bahagia | happy | |
| gering | sakit | sick | |
| hari keputeraan | hari jadi seseorang | someone's birthday | |
| hulu | kepala | head | |
| iram-iram | payung | umbrella | |
| kaus | kasut | shoes | |
| kurnia | beri; hadiah | give; gifts | |
| mahkota | topi | hat | |
| makam | kubur | grave | |
| mangkat | meninggal dunia | die | |
| menghadap | menjumpai | find | |
| murka | marah | angry | |
| patik | saya (rakyat menghadap raja) | I (people facing the king) | |
| peraduan | tempat tidur | bed | |
| permaisuri | isteri baginda | his wife | |
| putera | anak lelaki baginda | his son | |
| puteri | anak perempuan baginda | his daughter | |
| santap | makan | eat | |
| semayam | duduk; tinggal | sit down; stay | |
| sembah | memberi salam | greet | |
| singgahsana | kerusi | chair | |
| titah | kata; perintah | said; command |