I believe that the Malay pantun has rules about references to nature and
love etc, not unlike the seasonal reference expected in a haiku. As to rhyme
in the Malay language, I don't know literary Malay, though I used long ago
to be able to get about a bit in bazaar Malay. I don't remember noticing
rhyme, though it's a language which forms its plurals by reduplication; but
I do remember a wealth of sort of 'inbuilt' metaphor. Roger, can you add
anything here?
best joanna
----- Original Message -----
From: "Alison Croggon" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, February 11, 2005 9:38 PM
Subject: Re: Translation and the ghazal
> Absolutely true, Joanna. The first time I encountered a pantoum it was I
> think the Malay four line form, which has some very tricky, not to say
> impossible internal rhymes. Of course I tried to write one, always up for
> the challenge, and it defeated me, though I have had a go at the
> westernised
> repetition version. (which was also difficult). I guess, like practically
> every other language, there are lots of rhymes in Malay!
>
> Best
>
> A
>
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