COMMON MISTAKES [PART 1]

Some people believe that making mistakes is an inevitable part of the language learning process. Therefore, learners should embrace them, and not be afraid of making them. Making mistakes shows that you are trying to use the language. However, it doesn�t mean that in order to learn the language first you have to make mistakes. On the contrary, you can prevent yourself from making mistakes by learning from the mistakes of others.

Here are some typical mistakes made by English-speaking learners as a result of word-by-word translation or direct translation.

I AM WAITING FOR MY FRIEND.

• Incorrect Translation: "Saya sedang menunggu untuk teman saya."
• Correct Translation: "Saya sedang menunggu teman saya.

Note:

Wait for = menunggu. Don�t translate word for word: �menunggu' = 'to wait� and �for' = 'untuk�. The word �menunggu� is directly followed by an object, no need for a preposition �for�: menunggu teman, menunggu mobil, menunggu email, menunggu makanan.

More examples:

• How long have you been waiting for her? "Sudah berapa lama kamu menunggu dia?"
• I am still waiting for your email. "Saya masih menunggu email kamu."
• Please wait here. "Tolong tunggu di sini."
• What are you waiting for? "Kamu sedang menunggu apa?"

I WILL STAY IN INDONESIA FOR 2 YEARS.

• Incorrect Translation: "Saya akan tinggal di Indonesia untuk 2 tahun."
• Correct Translation: "Saya akan tinggal di Indonesia selama 2 tahun."

Note:

The word �for� is translated into �selama� when followed by a period of time (minutes, hours, days, weeks, etc.). The word �for� can be translated into �untuk� when it is �for someone� or �for the purpose of�.

• Ini untuk kamu.
• Dia datang untuk makan.

More examples for �more + period of time�:

• She has been studying for 3 hours. "Dia sudah belajar selama 3 jam."
• They will stay here for 1 week. "Mereka akan tinggal di sini selama 1 minggu."
• He worked there for 5 years before he moved. "Dia bekerja di sana selama 5 tahun sebelum dia pindah."
• We waited for hours. "Kami menunggu selama berjam-jam."

THE EMBASSY IS LOOKING FOR AN INDONESIAN TEACHER.

• Incorrect Translation: "Kedutaan sedang mencari untuk seorang guru Bahasa Indonesia."
• Correct Translation: "Kedutaan sedang mencari untuk seorang guru Bahasa Indonesia."

Note:

• Look for = mencari

Don�t translate word by word �look = mencari� and �for = untuk�. The word �mencari� is directly followed by an object. Eg.: mencari buku, mencari teman, mencari masalah.

More examples:

• What are you looking for? "Kamu sedang mencari apa?"
• We will look for another car. "Kami akan mencari satu mobil lagi."
• I didn�t look for him. "Saya tidak mencari dia."
• They a re looking for a bigger house. "Mereka mencari rumah yang lebih besar."

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS ARE FAMOUS/KNOWN FOR THEIR DISCIPLINES.

• Incorrect Translation: "Sekolah-sekolah Katolik terkenal untuk disiplinnya."
• Correct Translation: "Sekolah-sekolah Katolik terkenal dengan disiplinnya."

Note:

When used with the word �Famous� the preposition �for� is translated into �dengan�.

For examples: terkenal dengan pantainya, terkenal dengan makanannya, terkenal dengan toleransinya, etc.

More examples:

• Indonesia is famous for its culture. "Indonesia terkenal dengan budayanya."
• Churchill was famous for his inspiring speeches. "Churchill terkenal dengan pidatonya yang inspiratif."
• Why is Thailand famous for tourism? "Kenapa Thailand terkenal dengan wisatanya?"
• Among his students, he is famous for his discipline. "Di antara siswa-siswanya, dia terkenal dengan disiplinnya."

Learning the Indonesian language online is highly recommended for you to widen your perspective about Indonesia before considering visiting the country or broadening your business in the world's largest archipelago.

So start now to learn the Indonesian language online by taking REALIA Indonesian language online course. Feel free to book a trial session here.

COMMON MISTAKES [PART 2]

Quite often you will hear Indonesian say �I am boring� while what they actually meant to say is �I am bored� or �I feel bored�. They say, �I will ask to my parents.� Instead of saying �I will ask my parents.� Referring to your native language is unavoidable. Normally when you want to say something in the target language you will tend to think in your native language first, and only then translate (sometimes) word by word in the target language. Unfortunately, that doesn�t always work. The best way is of course when you learn the vocabulary, you learn the meaning and at the same time learn the function: how to use them.

HERE ARE SOME MORE TYPICAL MISTAKES MADE BY ENGLISH SPEAKING LEARNERS AS A RESULT OF WORD FOR WORD TRANSLATION OR DIRECT TRANSLATION.

WHAT = APA

You learn the word �APA� as an equivalent of �WHAT�, thus every time you are thinking of asking questions using the question word �WHAT� you will translate it into �APA�. You need to learn that there are three different ways of translating �WHAT�: SIAPA, APA, BERAPA.

1. SIAPA:

What is your name?

Incorrect translation: Apa nama kamu?

Correct translation: Siapa nama kamu?

Note:

The correct translation of the question word �WHAT� when asking a person�s name is �SIAPA�.

More examples:

� Siapa nama Bapak? = What is your name (sir)?

� Siapa nama mereka? = What are their names?

� Siapa nama dia? = What is her name?

2. APA:

What is the name of the shop?

Incorrect translation: Siapa nama toko itu?

Correct translation: Apa nama toko itu?

Note: �SIAPA� is only used when you ask a person�s name. To ask a name of an object like shop, building, hotel, etc. you use �APA�.

More examples:

� Apa nama gedung itu? = What is the name of the building?

� Apa nama hotel baru itu? = What is the name of the new hotel?

� Apa nama obatnya? = What is the name of the medicine?

APA is also used when you are asking �what month, what day, what book, what food, etc.�

� What month = bulan apa

� What day = hari apa

� What book = buku apa

BUT NOT ï¿½ What year, what time because the question is not about the name but more about number/amount.

3. BERAPA

What year did you finish university?

Incorrect translation: Tahun apa kamu selesai universitas?

Correct Translation: Tahun berapa kamu selesai universitas?

Note:

When the question word �WHAT� is asking everything about number or amount, it should be translated into �BERAPA� not �APA� or �SIAPA�.

More examples:

� Jam berapa kita akan berangkat? = What time are we leaving?

� Berapa totalnya? = What is the total cost?

Learning the Indonesian language online is highly recommended for you to widen your perspective about Indonesia before considering visiting the country or broadening your business in the world's largest archipelago.

So start now to learn the Indonesian language online by taking REALIA Indonesian language online course. Feel free to book a trial session here.