Hearts and Livers

On this Valentine's Day when hearts abound, it seems an appropriate time to talk about a major difference between the way Americans and Indonesians look at and feel about the world.

Not every word translates directly to a different language, in some cases because the meanings may not be the same in both cultures.  Americans feel emotions in their heart.  We say we are heartsick when something depressing happens; we express sympathy with, "Bless your heart!"

Indonesians may feel those same emotions, but they feel them in their liver.  So an academic article was entitled

The word "sakit" usually means sick/or illness, but if someone complains of "sakit hati," they are offended.  If they have liver disease, it is "penyakit hati" and if they have heart disease it is "penyakit jantung" since "jantung" refers to the organ that pumps blood around the body.

Since many spiritual experiences involve feelings, the word "hati" is used often in religious contexts.  "Rendah hati" means humility; "murah hati" is generous, and  "hati kecil" is one's conscience or inner voice.  The word "hati" is also used to express "pay attention," so to warn someone to look out, it would be "hati-hati!"

Viewing the liver as the seat of emotions is common in languages across Polynesian.   In some of the Indonesian regional dialects the word becomes "ati" or "ate." Because the Hawaiian has no consonant "t," their word for liver is "ake."

Oh and when it comes to the Indonesian view of puppy love, the first crush that so many of us experience at a young age...Indonesians call it "cinta monyet" or "monkey love."