Lost in leisure? The decline of Javanese language use in Indonesia

• Bashori, Muzakki ^[1]
  1. [1] Universitas Negeri Semarang

     Universitas Negeri Semarang

     Indonesia

     
• Localización: International journal of multilingualism, ISSN 1479-0718, Vol. 23, Nº. 1, 2026, págs. 404-422
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.1080/14790718.2025.2528662
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • Language endangerment is occurring worldwide at an alarming rate. This affects not only languages with small speaker populations but also those with millions of speakers. Javanese, the largest regional language in Indonesia, is experiencing a significant decline in speakers, attributed to rapid sociocultural changes and the increasing dominance of Indonesian as the national language. This study examines the diminishing use of Javanese across six leisure domains-reading novels and storybooks, reading newspapers, reading magazines, listening to music, listening to the radio, and watching television-where language often thrives in informal contexts. Utilising a mixed-methods approach, the research involved a survey of 568 participants who self-identified as Javanese or of mixed Javanese heritage, along with semi-structured interviews with 31 Javanese speakers. The findings reveal a concerning trend where the use of Javanese is overshadowed by Indonesian in these leisure activities. While the national language is predominantly used, Javanese still holds symbolic pride and prestige among its speakers. However, its functional presence in daily informal interactions continues to wane, particularly among younger generations. This research underscores the urgent need for comprehensive language revitalisation strategies to ensure the survival of Javanese as a vital part of Indonesia's rich linguistic and cultural heritage.

• Referencias bibliográficas
  • Andriyanti, E. (2019). Language shift among Javanese youth and their perception of local and national identities. GEMA Online Journal of Language...
  • Badan Bahasa. (2019). Bahasa dan Peta Bahasa di Indonesia. The Ministry of Education and Culture. https://petabahasa.kemdikbud.go.id/
  • Bromham, L., Dinnage, R., Skirgård, H., Ritchie, A., Cardillo, M., Meakins, F., Greenhill, S., & Hua, X. (2022). Global predictors of...
  • Clarke, V., & Braun, V. (2017). Thematic analysis. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 12(3), 297–298. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2016.1262613
  • Cohn, A. C., & Ravindranath, M. (2014). Local languages in Indonesia: Language maintenance or language shift. Linguistik Indonesia, 32(2),...
  • Creswell, J. W. (2021). A concise introduction to mixed methods research. SAGE publications.
  • Darihastining, S., Susilo, J., Hidayat, R., Sulistyowati, H., Maisaroh, S., Chalimah, C., & Faris, A. (2023). Javanese language learning...
  • Eberhard, D. M., Simons, G. F., & Fennig, C. D. (2024). Ethnologue: Languages of the World (27th ed.). SIL International. http://www.ethnologue.com
  • Errington, J. J. (1992). On the ideology of Indonesian language development: The state of a language of state. Pragmatics. Quarterly Publication...
  • Errington, J. J. (1998). Shifting languages (No. 19). Cambridge University Press.
  • Fishman, J. A. (1991). Reversing language shift: Theoretical and empirical foundations of assistance to threatened languages. Multilingual...
  • Fitriati, A. (2023). The family language policy of javanese multilingual families. Journal of Language and Literature, 23(2), 405–415. https://doi.org/10.24071/joll.v23i2.7020
  • Fuller, J. M. (2007). Language choice as a means of shaping identity. Journal of Linguistic Anthropology, 17(1), 105–129. https://doi.org/10.1525/jlin.2007.17.1.105
  • Hall, K., & Nilep, C. (2015). Code-switching, identity, and globalization. The Handbook of Discourse Analysis, 597–619. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118584194.ch28
  • Hariyanto, P., Nardiati, S., Endardi, J., Sukesti, R., & Heryana, N. (2024). Linguistic and symbolic meanings in ethnic communities: A...
  • Harwati, L. N., & Sathian, M. R. (2024). Mitigating pedagogical challenges through culture-based approach: Javanese language learning...
  • Haryono, C. G., Bungin, B., & Teguh, M. (2025). The Guardian of local culture: The dynamic of Indonesian local television to survive against...
  • Heller, M. (1995). Language choice, social institutions, and symbolic domination. Language in Society, 24(3), 373–405. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0047404500018807
  • Jatmiko, E., & Gittawati, A. A. F. (2024). Utilizing illustrations to visualize javanese vocabulary at The ngoko level through social...
  • Kusuma, I. M. D. A. (2020). The existence of local culture through community radio. In I. K. Ardhana, I. M. Damriyasa, G. Japee, P. Oza, &...
  • Manns, H. (2014). Scripting radio language amidst language shift in Indonesia. Journal of Asian Pacific Communication, 24(1), 21–38. https://doi.org/10.1075/japc.24.1.02man
  • Montolalu, L. R., & Suryadinata, L. (2007). National language and nation-building: The case of bahasa Indonesia. Language Nation and Development,...
  • Mufwene, S. (2002). Colonisation, globalisation, and the future of languages in the twenty-first century. International Journal on Multicultural...
  • Murtiningsih, S. R., & Puspawati, I. (2020). Language preservation through curricular activities: A case study of javanese language in...
  • Nurani, L. M. (2015). Changing language loyalty and identity: An ethnographic inquiry of societal transformation among the Javanese people...
  • Nuryantiningsih, F., & Pandanwangi, W. D. (2018, August). Politeness and impoliteness in Javanese speech levels. In Djatmika, R. Santosa,...
  • Paauw, S. (2009). One land, one nation, one language: An analysis of Indonesia’s national language policy. University of Rochester Working...
  • Pepinsky, T. B., Abtahian, M. R., & Cohn, A. C. (2024). Urbanization, ethnic diversity, and language shift in Indonesia. Journal of Multilingual...
  • Poedjosoedarmo, S. (1968). Javanese speech levels. Indonesia, 6, 54–81. https://doi.org/10.2307/3350711
  • Prabowo, H., Patria, R., & Subianto, C. (2022). Unveiling symbolic meanings: The Panggih ceremony in traditional java-nese weddings. Jurnal...
  • Prastiti, D. C., & Sudarwati, E. (2020). Attitude towards Javanese language: A case study of English Department Students in Brawijaya...
  • Quinn, G. (2011). Teaching Javanese respect usage to foreign learners. Electronic Journal of Foreign Language Teaching, 8(Suppl.), 362–370....
  • Ridwan, M. (2018). National and official language: The long journey of Indonesian language. Budapest International Research and Critics Institute-Journal...
  • Sakhiyya, Z., & Martin-Anatias, N. (2023). Reviving the language at risk: A social semiotic analysis of the linguistic landscape of three...
  • Setiawan, S. (2013). Children’s language in a bilingual community in East Java (Doctoral dissertation, The University of Western Australia)....
  • Setiawan, S. (2020). Shifting from ethnic language among younger generation in a metropolitan city in Indonesia. The Asian ESP Journal, 16(2.1),...
  • Setiya, D., Hapsari, S. A., & Kumalasari, A. (2019). Javanese as local language identity and preservation in digital era. Jurnal Ilmu...
  • Smith-Hefner, N. J. (1988). Women and politeness: The Javanese example. Language in Society, 17(4), 535–554. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0047404500013087
  • Smith-Hefner, N. J. (2009). Language shift, gender, and ideologies of modernity in Central Java, Indonesia. Journal of Linguistic Anthropology,...
  • Spolsky, B. (2004). Language policy. Cambridge university press.
  • Subroto, D. E., Dwirahardjo, M., & Setiawan, B. (2008). Endangered krama and krama inggil varieties of the Javanese language. Linguistik...
  • Sukarno, S. (2010). The reflection of the Javanese cultural concepts in the politeness of Javanese. K@ ta, 12(1), 59–71. https://doi.org/10.9744/kata.12.1.59-71
  • Sun, K., Tian, X., Xia, J., Li, Q., & Hou, B. (2024). Promoting leisure functions through setting creative linguistic landscapes in recreational...
  • Suwarno, B. (2020). Acquisition planning for regional indigenous heritage languages in Indonesia. SAGE Open, 10(3), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244020948843
  • Tong, H. K., & Cheung, L. H. (2011). Cultural identity and language: A proposed framework for cultural globalisation and glocalisation....
  • Trudell, B. (2005). Language choice, education and community identity. International Journal of Educational Development, 25(3), 237–251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2004.08.004
  • Ugot, M. (2008). Language choice, code-switching and code mixing in biase. Global Journal of Humanities, 7(1&2), 27–35.
  • Wati, M. A., Sumarwati, S., & Saddhono, K. (2018, November). Culture conservation through implementation of local wisdom in tradition...
  • Winarti, O. (2018). Language shift of krama to bahasa Indonesia among Javanese youths and its relation to parents’ social class. Jurnal Studi...
  • Zein, S. (2020). Language policy in superdiverse Indonesia. Routledge.
  • Zen, E. L. (2021). Javanese language as an ethnic identity marker among multilingual families in Indonesia. Linguistik Indonesia, 39(1), 49–62.
  • Zentz, L. (2012). Global language identities and ideologies in an Indonesian university context [Doctoral dissertation]. The University of...
  • Zentz, L. (2014). “Love” the local,“use” the national,“study” the foreign: Shifting J avanese language ecologies in (post-) modernity, postcoloniality,...
  • Zentz, L. (2017). Statehood, scale and hierarchy: History, language and identity in Indonesia (Vol. 9). Multilingual Matters.
  • Zustiyantoro, D., Widodo, W., Safitri, R. N., & Wahyuni, M. (2020). Pengembangan novelet berbahasa Jawa bertema sejarah Semarang untuk...