subject: Learn The Language Of The Island Of Bali [print this page] A Malayo-Polynesian language, Balinese or simply Bali is the native language of the people of Bali, a relatively small island in the lesser Sunda island chain in the southern portion of the Indonesian archipelago known for its lush landscapes, spectacular tourist attractions and a huge selection of luxury Bali villas and hotel accommodations.
Balinese is spoken by 3.3 million people (as of 2000) in Bali, as well as in northern Nusa Penida, western Lombok and eastern Java.
However, in 2011, it was estimated by the Bali Cultural Agency that the number of people still using Balinese language in their daily lives on the Bali Island does not exceed 1 million. This is because in urban areas their parents only introduce Indonesian language or even English, while daily conversations in the institutions and the mass media have disappeared.
Over the years, the written form of the Balinese language has become increasingly unfamiliar and most Balinese people have now come to use the Balinese language only as a spoken tool with mixing ofthe Indonesian language in their daily conversation.
But in the transmigration areas outside Bali Island, Balinese language is found to be still extensively used and believed to play an important role in the survival of the language.
The Balinese language could be heard as having unusual sounds, like words that start with ng, which many Westerner guests of the many private villas in bali find particularly difficult to pronounce correctly.
The higher registers of the language is said to borrow extensively from Javanese.
Although the Balinese language also dispenses with verb conjugations and tenses, it seems to have a variety of social distinctions based on a form of caste system inherited from India in the distant past which still exists among Balinese society.
As a result, there are often several ways of saying the same thing as the way the Balinese language is spoken will depend on whom you are talking to.
Fortunately, there is the most different form, almost a different language, that is used when speaking with high caste individuals or priests, and therefore plays little role in daily communication with foreigners. This is called Kawi, an old form of classical Javanese, which is used in Bali as a religious and ceremonial language.
However, that still leaves formal language and familiar language, which are not too different from the french vous and tu, but applying too many words, not just pronouns.
Even more, when one includes the colloquialisms used every day by Balinese, many guests from the luxury villas in bali can hear a bewildering variety of words for the same thing. There is also an additional complication of the pronunciations which can vary from region to region, although most Balinese recognize the accents from other parts of Bali.
In general, the Balinese language has three levels. These are the Bali Alus (which is the highest level), Bali Madya (the middle level) and Bali Sor (the lowest level). Bali Madya and Bali Sor are well spoken in Balinese daily life and can be used amongst friends.
