PERPUSTAKAAN

HARYOTO KUNTO SEKOLAH TINGGI BAHASA ASING TEKNOKRAT

Language Maintenance as a Cultural Identity of

Javanese Diaspora in Lampung

Budiawan
Samanik
STBA Teknokrat Lampung

Unpad Bandung, May 24th-26th, 2012

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 ON LANGUAGE AND IDENTITY

Fostering feeling of group identity and

solidarity, to share way of life and culture

Symbol of national and ethnic identity

As languages disappear, culture die

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Crucial to maintain language alive!

 LANGUAGE MAINTENANCE

Preservation of language or language variety in a

context where there is considerable pressure for
speakers to shift toward the more prestigious or
politically dominant language (Swan et al, 2004:172)

Situation in which a speaker, a group of speakers, or a

speech community continues to use their language in
some or all spheres of life despite competition with
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the dominant or majority language to become the

main/sole language in these spheres (Pauwels, 2005)
 SEKOLAH TINGGI BAHASA ASING TEKNOKRAT

Method

- Data collection : an ethnographic observation

- Observations were made in the home of Javanese
diaspora in East Lampung
- Items observed: language used in home speech event,
estimated group of the interlocutors, the language
used when speaking to other speakers
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- Object of observation: Sri Bhawono, Bandar Agung,

Labuhan Ratu IV, Rejo Katon, Metro Kibang, and
Labuhan Maringgai

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Discussion

- All people in 5 district used JL as a means of daily

communication in home domain
- The number of Javanese people is 70 – 90%
- Javanese language serves as a means of ethno
cultural identification among Javanese people
- However, in Sri Bhawono BI is used as a means of
daily communication
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- Geographically, it is a central trade: BI is more

exposed for business purposes

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Family context:
- JL is a heritage from generation to generation
- Four districts: the parents always use JL when
speaking to their children and vise versa
- The average age of children who master JL is
between 3 – 6 years
Gunarwan (1999): “A mother tongue language will not be
extinct as long as it is inherited from generation to
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generation. In reverse, if the parents do not pass it down

to their children, it will be the main cause of language
shift, even to the worst one, death or at least a
ceremonial language only”

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- JL is the most salient marker because it differs them

from other social groups
- JL is not only as a sign system, but also as a sign of
social identity
- JL is an ethnic index and emotional attachment to
their homeland
- One district: people “often” used JL: introduce
children BI prior to school time
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- Average age of children who master JL : 6 – 9 years

old

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Neighborhood setting:
- JL is used in the neighborhood setting (Rejo Katon,
Metro Kibang, and Bandar Agung)
- People have positive attitude toward their own
language
- Positive feeling toward such language is closely
related to the maintenance of their group identity
- Language becomes an ethnic index if its speakers feel
that they have historical similarity, emotional
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attachment with such language which then raises

social group identity

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- Bandar Agung: Javanese people use JL when

speaking to non Javanese people
- JL is a great pride toward their own language
- Labuhan Ratu and Labuhan Maringgai: the means of
communication in neighborhood domain is the
mixing of JL and BI
- Sri Bhawono: BI is used in the neighborhood setting
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Conclusion

1. JL is being maintained among Javanese diaspora in

East Lampung
2. JL serves as ethno cultural identification as well as
emotional attachment to their homeland
3. JL is a heritage from generation to generation
4. The maintenance of JL exists in both family and
neighborhood domain
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5. JL is a pride for them which then becomes (ethno)

cultural identity

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