The Particle "KAN"

Depending on whether kan precedes or follows the predicate, it has two slightly different meanings. Kan (derived from bukan) is used to form a tag question. When it follows the predicate it means “[so-and-so] is the case, isn’t it?” Preceding the predicate (or subject and predicate) kan focuses on some form of knowledge or understanding shared by speaker and listener. One equivalent phrase in English might be “As I am sure you are aware”.

A. Following the predicate

Kalau di Jakarta, sama, kan? In Jakarta it's the same, right?
Kamu sudah kawin, kan? You are married, aren't you?

In this case the speaker is checking if the listener agrees with the speaker's opinion. Depending on the context it may be the case that the speaker either simply assumes the listener's agreement with the statement and its implications, or that it is a genuine question because the speaker is not quite sure whether he is correct (for instance he may not be quite sure whether the listener is actually married or not).

B. Preceding the predicate

Preceding the predicate (or subject and predicate) kan focuses on some form of knowledge or understanding shared by speaker and listener. One equivalent phrase in English might be “As I am sure you are aware”.

Kalau Bajaj di depan kan tidak bisa duduk penumpang. In a Bajaj, you know, no passenger can sit in the front.

In our example kan preceeds the predicate memiliki kesempatan...

Sekarang kan wanita memiliki kesempatan yang sama dengan pria untuk meniti karier. Women nowadays, as you know, have the same opportunity in advancing their career as men.

In conclusion one can say that the particle kan functions as a "solidarity marker" where the speaker seeks agreement with the listener, similar to "you know". It can have this simple function regardless of whether whether it preceeds or follows the predicate. However, only when kan follows the predicate it is also possible that the speaker actually seeks confirmation because he is in doubt.

For more on the function of kan: Wouk, Fay (1999) Gender and the use of pragmatic particles in Indonesian. Journal of Sociolinguistics 3 (2), 194-219.