Page 93 - BAB I-V ADATMINANG

meaning) of a word. It is possible that an understanding spoken by

someone contradicts general thinking or logic, but the teaching of
the speech is otherwise very

contains a deep and philosophical understanding

that requires elaboration. Therefore, the custom demands
that the people continue to refine manners (basa basi), raso

jo pareso (taste and check), namely sympathy and empathy,
as stated in the following proverb and petitih:

Know on ereng with drums,
know at raso jo pareso,

know in kilek jo shadow,

53
know at the address kato sampi.
The meaning of the above proverb is that adat teaches

subtlety, baso-basi (ethic). A Minang person must know with
figurative words, even though it seems that the language is not

directed at him, but with a subtle sense it can be understood, as in
the following example: Child is being abused by sindia minantu.

The purpose of this mamangan is to describe a way a mother-in-

law tells or teaches her daughter-in-law. By scolding his own child,
an in-law means conveying a message or teaching gently to the

53 Idrus Hakimy, Mustika Series, p. xvii, which means: Tofu in ereng
with gendeng, tofu in taste and examine, tofu in lightning with a shadow, tofu
with the meaning of a word (said word).