di mana (bukan tempat)
Avoiding Nonlocative Di Mana
In standard Malay, di mana is an interrogative ('where?') or a physical location marker. Using it to link clauses (e.g., 'a situation where...') is a translation calque from English and is considered grammatically incorrect in formal writing.
How It Works
The use of di mana as a relative pronoun is a prominent example of interferensi bahasa (language interference) from English.
1. The Locative Function (Standard)
In its correct form, di mana is used to ask about a physical location (e.g., Di mana buku saya?) or to refer to a specific place. However, even when referring to a physical place in a relative clause, standard Malay prefers using tempat.
2. The Nonlocative Calque (Non-standard)
Learners often use di mana to translate English phrases like 'the situation where' or 'the case in which.' Because Malay is an Austronesian language, it does not naturally use this clausal structure. The Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) classifies this usage as a 'common mistake' (kesalahan umum).
3. How to Fix It
Examples (4)
- Di mana awak tinggal?
Where do you live?
Word by Word: At where you live?
This is the correct, standard use of 'di mana' as an interrogative pronoun.
- Ini adalah hotel tempat kami menginap.
This is the hotel where we stayed.
Word by Word: This is hotel place we stay.
Standard Malay uses 'tempat' (place) instead of 'di mana' for locative relative clauses.
- Kita menghadapi situasi harga barang meningkat.
We are facing a situation where prices are rising.
Word by Word: We face situation price goods increase.
In standard Malay, the connector 'di mana' is omitted entirely, resulting in a more natural sentence structure.
- Saya suka suasana yang tenang itu.
I like that atmosphere where it is quiet.
Word by Word: I like atmosphere that quiet that.
Using 'yang' is the standard way to link a noun to a descriptive quality.
Common Mistakes
Using 'di mana' to translate 'in which' or 'where' for abstract nouns.
Terdapat banyak kes di mana pelajar ponteng sekolah.Terdapat banyak kes pelajar ponteng sekolah.In Malay, you don't need a relative pronoun like 'di mana' to link 'cases' to the description of the cases. The direct juxtaposition is standard.
Writing 'di mana' as a single word.
Dimana anda berada?Di mana anda berada?The preposition 'di' must always be separated from the word 'mana' by a space.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand why 'di mana' is considered a nonlocative calque, a learner must first be familiar with its standard function as a locative question word ('where'). They also need to understand the standard Malay relative clause structure using 'yang' to see how the calqued version deviates from traditional grammar.
Related Patterns
- di manaWhere with Di Mana
The standard interrogative form used to ask 'where?'
Level 1 - yangRelative Clauses with Yang
The primary way to form relative clauses in Malay, often replacing the incorrect 'di mana'.
Level 2 - tempat yang ...Relative Clauses After Place Nouns
The correct way to refer to a 'place where' something happens.
Level 3 - bahawaContent Clauses with Bahawa
Used for content clauses ('that'), which is sometimes confused with the nonlocative 'di mana'.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice di mana (bukan tempat) in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Malay lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
