What's in a name?

There's an series of advertisements on Australian television that have captured the public imagination. They are funny and flirty and take a self-deprecating dig at Australian tourists here in Bali. The ongoing Ketut and Rhonda story has even spawned a t-shirt industry in Kuta, although some of the slogans could be more tasteful. Non-Australians must wonder.

Ketut is a common Balinese name, but even more so is Wayan. Why is it so? It took a number of trips to Bali before we started to figure out the naming system here. At first glance it seems simple. Male or female, it makes no difference - first child Wayan, second child Made, third child Nyoman, fourth child Ketut. Any more than four, and it starts all over again. The male indicator in a name is I, the female, Ni. Thus you always know that I Wayan [insert family name] is male and the first born in his family, and Ni Wayan [insert family name] is female. Possibly confusing, but simple. Well, not quite - there's a bit more to it.

This naming system only applies to the Sudra caste, an estimated 93% of the population. But if that is the case, why do we hear other names like Putu or Komeng?

That's because even the Balinese probably feel a bit over-Wayaned. The name Wayan comes from the Balinese word 'wayahan', meaning eldest. But the first born can also be named Gede or Putu. Second born children can be Made, Kadek or Nengah, third born Nyoman or Komeng, but Ketut will always be Ketut.

The social hierarchy in Bali becomes evident through the naming system, so people are always aware. The Balinese language must be used at the correct level (there are three) of propriety according to who is being addressed; and intermarriage between castes is not supposed to happen, although face can be saved through various ploys. A mock kidnapping is the most common - once the young couple have 'run off' together, well, what can a family do?

The three other castes, in ascending order with Sudra at the bottom are:

• Wesya - merchants (names: Dewa, Sang, Gusti)
• Satria - warriors and kings (aristocratic titles: Gusti Agung, Anak Agung, Cokorda)
• Brahmin - priests and teachers (aristocratic titles: Ida Bagus, male; Ida Ayu, female)

Thus each Balinese is always aware of the caste of another and knows whether to pay deference or receive it. Murni's article and this one are worth reading to learn more. The ever-helpful Bali Advertiser even has a chart.

The other thing our ears are noticing is the Balinese (Indonesian?) way of abbreviating words. Unlike in English, nicknames come from the end of a name, not the beginning, so Wayan could be Yan and Ketut becomes Tut. Similarly, the quick way of saying 'thank you' (terima kasih) to turn it into 'thanks' is makasih. 

Living and learning. Writing all this down helps me get my head around it too.