Language and Culture Notes

1. The words Tionghoa and Cina are both used in Indonesia to mean Chinese. Due to historical and political reasons, the word Tionghoa is considered more polite and preferred by the older generation of Chinese Indonesians. In the 21^st century, the word Cina is commonly used although it retains negative connotations for some.
   
   The Chinese have been traveling to the Indonesian archipelago from the 13^th century as traders and later as immigrants. During the Dutch colonial period, numerous waves of Chinese arrived to work in a variety of occupations. Although the Chinese of Java are primarily urban dwellers and often merchants, many Chinese live in rural communities especially in Kalimantan.
2. Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is shared by three countries; Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. The southern two-thirds of the island, known as Kalimantan in Indonesia, has five Indonesian provinces. The village described in the text, Sijangkung, is in West Kalimantan where the most populous ethnic group is the Dayak; other major groups living in this province include Malay, Banjarese, Javanese, Bugis, and Chinese.