Kandel
Definition & Context
Adjective
A word or phrase naming an attribute, added to or grammatically related to a noun to modify or describe it.
A quality referring to the “thick” or highly prominent nature of a voice or intonation. In a linguistic context, it describes a very strong, dominant, and distinct phonological characteristic or regional accent that clearly distinguishes a speaker's linguistic identity.
Synonyms & Variants
berat
Used to describe an accent that sounds very dominant or difficult to lose.
kental
Refers to an accent or dialect that is very strong and feels dominant.
medok
A term for a regional accent or dialect that is very noticeable when speaking Indonesian.
pekat
The quality of something being very strong, dense, or not diluted.
tebal
Standard equivalent in Indonesian.
Usage Notes or Etymology
This term originates from the Javanese language and is absorbed into informal conversation to describe something that is dominant both physically and auditorily. In a linguistic context, the word kandel is used metaphorically to describe phonology or intonation that is not subtle or possesses a very strong regional characteristic. The use of this word is very common among Javanese people to affirm one's sociolinguistic identity. Etymologically, this word is a direct equivalent of the word tebal in Indonesian but with a shift in meaning to be more descriptive of vocal character.
Real-world Usage
Swara ne bocah kuwi kandel banget, medhok tenan lek ngomong (Suara anak itu sangat tebal, kental sekali saat berbicara).
English Translation
Representative of real-world usage and contextual accuracy.
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