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BALINESE NAMING TRADITION
Balinese naming system is closely related to social strata, and names reflect cast not family or group. What is the foundation of cast in Bali, that is a continuing question unanswered. On scriptures and religious books written so far advocating the foundation is basic function. Among 4 casts can be summed up as Brahmana Cast has the function relating to the religious affairs, Kesatrya Cast has the function of ruling the country, Waisya Cast has the function in moving the economic sector, and Sudra, being the lowest is the servant.
Current fact in Balinese society is not consistent with what are written and what people know from the tradition. It seems that the cast is based on genealogy instead of function. It is hard to know when it's concept was changed, but a period from 1345 AD to 16th century was supposed the probable time of the shifting.
There are different treatment in term of language, attitude, and place for each of the cast. Especially for the older generation, say before 1960s. Seen from the language, Balinese then introduces 3 level of language based on respect-layers. Lowest layer is the Sudra and Waisya, and among them there is a dialect they speak for their layer, with a little bit variation if Waisya talk to the Sudra, and if the Sudra talk to their master. For upper layers ( 2 casts ) which are also called "tri-wangsa" ( three-blood ) has a distinct dialect with slight variation if the Kesatrya talk to Brahmana, and a Brahmana talk to a Kesatrya. Among 2 upper casts and 2 below cast there are a great different in the way of communication. The basic concept of this dialect is that: A lower cast if saying an activity that is referring to the activity of high cast the words to be used is their words. While if a low cast saying about their own activity in front of the high cast they must speak their own words. So basically the lower cast must put themselves lower than the higher cast in whatever event which must be reflected by their two-way communication. That is also the higher cast will put themselves higher then their Sudra and Waisya casts by reflection and expression of their communication and attitudes.
Here are some notes on the names of each cast:
Sudra and Waisya Cast Man begins with "I" example I Made Putra Woman begins with "Ni" example Ni Made Putri
I or Ni indicate sex, while Made is the number of birth. The tradition relating to the number of birth in Bali exists that a family would name their children as follows:
First child : Wayan or Gede or Putu
Second child: Made or Nengah
Third child: Nyoman or Komang
Fourth child: Ketut
In case a family has more than 4 children than the naming be returned to the beginning, so in the past it is common in Balinese family has more than 2 Wayan or Made or Nyoman, even Ketut.
Let us see the name: I Made Putra. It means a man, second child with the name of Putra from Sudra or Waisya cast.
Kesatrya Cast
Within the Kesatrya cast itself has developed many group or families bearing different group title. For example the Kesatrya cast in Ubud called themselves as "Cokorda", while the rest of Bali called themselves as " Anak Agung " or " I Gusti Agung" But in the past when the cast system first developed in Bali the ruling class used the group title as " Dewa " or " Dalem ". This is become complicated again because until today there are may family called themselves as the family group of "Dewa" or "Gusti" and of "Anak Agung" and of " Cokorda" For man : Anak Agung ( abbreviated as A.A ), I Gusti Agung ( abbriviated as I.G.A), I Dewa Gede/Made/Nyoman/Ketut ( abbreviated as I.D.G, I.D.M, I.D.N., I.D.K ) For woman: Anak Agung Ayu ( abbreviated as A.A.A.), I Gusti Ayu ( abbreviated as I.G.A.), Desak Ayu or Desak Putu. In higher casts it is not always explicitly mentioned the number of birth, although within their family this is also in use. Some example of names among various names being currently used:
Men: A.A. Ngurah Oka, I.G.N. Ngurah Gorda, Cok. Sidharta, I.D.G. Oka, and so on,
Women: I G A Surasmi, Cok. Ayu Putri, Desak Ayu Raka, Gusti Ayu Rai, and so on.
Brahmana Cast
Brahmana cast is the most easiest to identify, because it is always started with I.B. for men, and I.A. for women. I.B. is the abbreviation of Ida Bagus, and I.A. is the abbreviation of Ida Ayu. No other variation of the names. The same as Kesatrya casts that the number of birth is not quiet explicitly expressed although in some family they used internally.
During the course of history Balinese has experienced 2 great influences in naming system. Those Balinese who are not influenced very deep by the literatures of India still hold the tradition of their ancestors, although in fact they are Hindu. This covers the areas of countryside, villages or settlements those have not been easy to communicate with outsiders due to transportation. Until today you can still find those people with the strange sounds of names such as : I Gerudug, Ni Kembung, I Dabdab, I Kelepus, etc.
With wide spread of Sanskrit influence than Balinese heard the sound of Sanskrit more nice and refine. From here we introduce the name such as : Putra, Putri, Adnyana, Adnyani, Hartawan, Hartawati, etc. , where the name with ending " a " means men, and ending with "i" indicates women. Since 1960s, it looks that the Sanskrit words have been deeply accepted by Balinese and used it widely especially for naming their children.
Starting by the coming of Christian missionaries in Bali, in late 1920s, Western names have started to take place in Balinese heart. This is especially very strong tendencies using western name starting 1980s, not only by converted Balinese into Christian, but also Balinese Hindu and Balinese Buddhist. They might feel by using western names they will be considered "modern" and they only put western physical attributes while do not understand the western mind and philosophy underlying the culture That is why you will not difficult to find Balinese with the name of "Vivi", but she herself can not pronounce "V", Deborah, Angelica, Catherine, Robert, Tommy, Vincent, and so on. Almost all the western names can't be pronounced correctly by Indonesian, even some dialect group that very hard to pronounce the alphabets such as V, F, TH, TCH, SH, Z, PH, EKS, TS, especially those alphabets produced with bilabial or dental articulation.
An other small group of Balinese also try to imitate naming system using family names. But this is not many, most of them are overwhelmed by the fact of western modern image that penetrating all aspect of life.
If we look back to the historical names of Balinese Royal family, those indianized ( Sanskritized ) names or terminologies are the prime inspiration of all people in Bali. In the beginning, the use of all Sanskrit words was solely the privilege of royal and religious functionaries. It is quiet different if we see the process of using western names or terminologies. The spread of western names and terminologies was a result of individual contact bigger than religious missions or even political conspiracy. While indianized names and terminologies were inspirited by royal families and religious functionaries.
