How to Respect Older People : Javanese and Batak Tribe

In general how to respect older people are the same. We are also common to find a condition where an ethic which is considered polite in a particular ethnic could be considered rude in other ethnicities. How the way people respect older people can be seen from the way how the person spoke and behave.
Between one ethnic and another have the same way in respect of older people as long as it remains within the limits of decency according to prevailing norms in these ethnic groups.
In behavior, both the Javanese and Batak people have much the same way in respect of older people. For example, when do the greetings, younger will kiss the hand of the older. When sitting with family, an older usually will sit on a chair and the other is under. The act like this is done to respect the older. Like in Java, Batak also not allow us to ask older to do something which we can do ourselves, it may considered as rude. Maybe if it really need, we can add the word “help” to ask something, it will more polite. Batak people in general (especially the Christian religion) treat people die in different ways, ranging from tears while mourning in a distinctive and unique. Most likely, the Javanese also will find this as something strange.

In the way to speak the word, maybe between these two ethnic groups are often misunderstood. We know that the Batak has a typical to speak out loud to anyone, even to elder as long as the words that are used still follow modesty. For Batak people it is common and is considered polite. But for those Javanese that have a characteristic to speak graciously considers Batak people rude in speech. Batak people sometimes also considered that Javanese is impolite when they call an older person with their name. Due to the Batak people calling the older people’s name seem rude, they have special calls for older people or younger.