Javanese keris titles - when and how are they bestowed?

A. G. Maisey · 14th March 2011, 03:40 AM

Yes Penangsang, "sang" is not a title.

It is an honorific marker that is used with those above one, especially with notables.

Sang is quite often used in sarcasm.

It goes in tandem with "si" which is a deprecatory marker that is used for people with whom one is familiar, and also for small children.

For instance, you might be talking about a neighbour's 5 year old son and you might say " Si Sigit is a naughty little boy"

Or you might use "si mbok" to refer to your mother when speaking with a sibling

But then you might be talking about Sigit's father who is self opinionated and more than a bit arrogant, so you might say "Sang Sudarmo -----". This would be sarcastic usage.

But used in its proper way it indicates respect for an exalted person. You would never say "si lurah", but you might well say "sang lurah"
( a lurah is a middle ranking area administrator)

In respect of a keris, where that keris was named as, for instance, Kyai Setya, you could use Sang Kyai Setya. (setya is faithful)

14th March 2011, 03:40 AM	#18
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,048	Yes Penangsang, "sang" is not a title. It is an honorific marker that is used with those above one, especially with notables. Sang is quite often used in sarcasm. It goes in tandem with "si" which is a deprecatory marker that is used for people with whom one is familiar, and also for small children. For instance, you might be talking about a neighbour's 5 year old son and you might say " Si Sigit is a naughty little boy" Or you might use "si mbok" to refer to your mother when speaking with a sibling But then you might be talking about Sigit's father who is self opinionated and more than a bit arrogant, so you might say "Sang Sudarmo -----". This would be sarcastic usage. But used in its proper way it indicates respect for an exalted person. You would never say "si lurah", but you might well say "sang lurah" ( a lurah is a middle ranking area administrator) In respect of a keris, where that keris was named as, for instance, Kyai Setya, you could use Sang Kyai Setya. (setya is faithful)