BASIC ETIQUETTE IN INDONESIA
(ESPECIALLY IN A JAVA ISLAND)
LIST OF MATERIALS
• BKoF / Ice Breaking
• Definition of Etiquette
• Kinds of Basic Etiquette in Indonesia especially in a Java island
• Identification of Basic Etiquette from a Short Movie
BUILDING KNOWLEDGE OF THE FIELD
Watch this short clip from Budi Pekerti movie!
WHAT IS ETIQUETTE?
KINDS OF BASIC ETIQUETTE IN INDONESIA ESPECIALLY JAVA ISLAND
• Meeting and Greeting
• Gift Giving Etiquette
• Dining Etiquette
• Etiquette While Sightseeing
Etiquette for Visiting Others
MEETING AND GREETING
• Greetings can be rather formal as they are meant to show respect.
• A handshake is the most common greeting accompanied with the word "Selamat".
• Many Indonesians may give a slight bow or place their hands on their heart after shaking your hand or if they cannot shake your hand due to a religious reason.
• If you are being introduced to several people, always start with the eldest or most senior person first.
first.
• Titles (Professor, Doctor, Haji or Hajjah) and honorific (Bapak/Mr, Ibu/Mrs/Ma’am, Mba/Sister/Miss, Mas/Brother, Kak for more neutral gender) are important in Indonesia as they signify status. If you know of any titles ensure you use them in conjunction with the name.
• Some Indonesians only have one name, although it is becoming more common for people to have a first name and a surname, especially in the middle class.
• Many Indonesians, especially those from Java, may have had an extremely long name, which was shortened into a sort of nickname for everyday conversation.
• There are several ethnic groups in Indonesia. Most have adopted Indonesian names over the years, while some retain the naming conventions of their ethnicity.
• Common Greetings in Indonesia
Good Morning: Selamat pagi (sounds like: "suh-lah-mat pah-gee") Good Day: Selamat siang (sounds like: "suh-lah-mat see-ahng")
Good Afternoon: Selamat sore (sounds like: "suh-lah-mat sor-ee") Good Evening: Selamat malam (sounds like: "suh-lah-mat mah-lahm") When telling a stranger goodbye, use the following phrases:
If you are the one leaving: Selamat tinggal (sounds like: "teen-gal"), If If you are the one leaving: Selamat tinggal (sounds like: "teen-gal"), If you are the one staying: Selamat jalan (sounds like: "jal-lan"). Tinggal means to stay, and jalan means to go. If there's a chance or hope to meet again (there usually is with friendly people) then use something more endearing:
Sampai jumpa (Sounds like: "sahm-pai joom-pah"): See you later
• The most polite way to introduce yourself is to literally say “introduction”
or perkenalkan before you tell people your name. It might sound a bit odd if you’re not used to it, but after a little practice, it rolls right off the tongue.
Perkenalkan, nama saya Eka…
“Let me introduce myself, my name is Eka…”
• There are two particular body gestures that immediately reveal that someone is Indonesian. The first is touching your hand to your heart after shaking hands.
• A visitor should be aware that many conservative Muslims prefer not to have physical contact with members of the opposite sex. Although this belief isn’t held physical contact with members of the opposite sex. Although this belief isn’t held as strongly for many young Indonesians, be aware of this possibility and don’t be offended if someone simply places their hand to their heart directly instead of accepting a handshake.
Senang bertemu dengan Anda.
“Nice to meet you.”
• With these phrases, you can’t go wrong, and you’ll be able to follow the cultural
etiquette in Indonesia for greetings like it’s nothing.
GIFT GIVING ETIQUETTE
• Indonesians usually try to bring gifts when visiting friends. These are small usually don’t have a significant monetary value.
• Flowers are given on special occasions (i.e. marriages, funerals).
• Gifts should be given and accepted with both hands together or the right hand alone.
• Gifts are not opened immediately upon receiving them.
• The appropriate gift may vary depending on an Indonesian’s ethnicity and religion.
• For Malays and Muslim Indonesians, gifts that have alcohol or pork in them should not be given, Do not give leather products to a Hindu,
• For strict Muslims, gifts of food must meet halal standards. Many Muslims accept foods
without halal certification as long as it does not contain any pork products (including pork oil/fat).
• It is considered polite to verbally refuse a gift before accepting it. This shows that the recipient is not greedy.
• Items to avoid include scissors, knives or other cutting utensils as they indicate that you want to sever
DINING ETIQUETTE
• Dining etiquette is generally relaxed but depends on the setting and context.
• The more formal the occasion the more formal the behaviour.
• Wait to be shown to your place - as a guest you will have a specific position.
• Food is often taken from a shared dish in the middle.
• You will be served the food and it would not be considered rude if you helped yourself after that.
• If food is served buffet style then the guest is generally asked to help themselves first.
• If food is served buffet style then the guest is generally asked to help themselves first.
• It is considered polite that the guest insist others go before him/her but this would never happen.
• In formal situations, men are served before women.
• Wait to be invited to eat before you start.
• A fork and spoon are often the only utensils at the place setting.
• Depending on the situation some people may use their hands, better use the right hand.
• Eat or pass food with your right hand only.
• Indonesians generally eat quietly without any chomping or munching sounds. Do your best to finish all your food, as it’s bad manners to waste it.
ETIQUETTE WHILE SIGHTSEEING
• Although Indonesia receives countless tourists from all over the world, it still maintains a reputation for being very warm and welcoming to each and every one. That doesn’t mean you should test it, though. Every local of a well-touristed city has anecdotes of some group of boorish visitors that drank too much and left the beach a mess.
• So even though you might not get publicly reprimanded (for Indonesians are loath to call someone out in public), any reckless behavior you do indulge in has loath to call someone out in public), any reckless behavior you do indulge in has an effect. Better avoid it.
• The number-one polite phrase for travelers is this one:
Boleh saya ambil foto?
“Can I take photos?”
• You also can’t go wrong with the flattering phrase:
Semuanya di sini cantik sekali!
ETIQUETTE FOR VISITING OTHERS
• If you get the chance to be received as a guest in an Indonesian home, you’d better get ready to eat. First, your host will bring out food, usually sweet tea and small finger foods such as fried tofu.
• It’s considered rude to refuse this offering, and you really don’t have to eat much to be polite.
However, if you have a medical condition or allergy, you could say:
Maaf, saya tidak bisa makan (jamur).
Maaf, saya tidak bisa makan (jamur).
“Sorry, I can’t eat (mushrooms).”
• Once you do eat something, though, you’d better follow up with thanks or a compliment.
Enak sekali!
“Very tasty!”
• Do not whistle in any place as you wish unless you want to attract a bird
ETIQUETTE IDENTIFICATION
• Watch this short movie entitle Topi “Hat” and identify how many
REFERENCES
• https://www.commisceo-global.com/resources/country- guides/indonesia-guide
• https://www.indonesianpod101.com/blog/2020/01/06/indo nesian-etiquette/
nesian-etiquette/
• https://www.tripsavvy.com/saying-hello-in-indonesian- 1458407
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VkYiatpTVQ
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDMqnR300-E
THE END OF SLIDE SHOWS