Javanese Kramacode Mixing in the Indonesian Language Use of Non-
formal Situation in the Javanese Community Environment
Sunarya Sunarya
FPBS, Universitas PGRI Semarang, Semarang, Indonesia
Keywords: Revitalization, Javanese Vocabulary Krama, Bilingualism, Javanese Society.
Abstract: This paper provides an insight into linguistic politeness use in bilingualism context, of Indonesian and
Javanese languages in the Javanese environmental community. Both Javanese and Indonesian languages
significantly shape the daily communicative needs of the Indonesian people living in the Javanese
environment. The Javanese language is identical with its politeness sense and rules, it is as widely known for
the level of politeness use so called krama. It is realized, that Indonesian is commonly used by some people
of Javanese community in everyday conversation, either in the outside community or family environment.
Javanese karma speech levels plays a great role in Indonesian language conversation, it is realized in code
mixing forms, thus karma vocabulary often time used in everyday language contact, it is assumed as both
easier and simpler. Certain polite expression use normally found at the time a speaker making a conversation
to his/her speaking counterparts, both speakers linguistically incline to honoring each other. In contrast,
speech level use of "honor" in essence may not always be aimed at the speakers themselves. The use of
Javanese krama in Indonesian conversation reflects some universal values, such as peace, humility, honor,
compassion, and others.
1 INTRODUCTION
A Javanese proverb says: Ajining dhiri gumantung
saka lathi, ajining awak gumantung saka tumindak,
ajining raga gumantung saka busana, whichinfers a
deep philosophical and cultural meanings that one's
self-esteem is determined by three elements, among
others; ways of talking, behaving and ways of
dressing. These three elements are of the benchmarks
for a person to acknowledge people’ personal
characters or traits (Sasangka and Maryani, 2004).
It is a truth and a way of speaking is a benchmark
for one's character. Language as a means of
communication requires "acceptance" between the
interception of communication (speaker) and
communicant (lecture partner). Regarding ethics,
acceptance is not only applicable in terms of grammar
and its meaning, however, it pertains to the aspects of
interpretation on connotation, softening, friendliness,
and respectful. In other words, it can be taught based
on positive connotations for the recipients, as well as
the local cultural terms which a language can act as
"nguwongake” ‘making people more humane’.
Positive connotations not only arise from language
meaning in terms of segmentally (words and
sentences), but also at the suprasegmental
(intonation). Javanese language essentially has
applied those concept, Javanese speech levels (undha
usuk), which generally distinguished into two main
levels, the ngoko and krama levels (Wilian, 2006).
Each level of language is lined with the ethical
concept of Javanese society. In the context of
language use, often found two levels are not placed in
opposite places. It would seem no problem if
ngokolevel speech is considered "rough", although it
is on the contrary with krama ‘polite level’. Each
level works according to the language contexts of use.
If one can use the Javanese language in
accordance with the context of its application, then
he/she is capable of showing linguistically polite
attitudes. In addition to that, one can be easily
accepted by their community, he/she aware of the
existing empan papan, which can only be worked in
certain social and cultural contexts.
450
Sunarya, S.
Javanese Kramacode Mixing in the Indonesian Language Use of Non-formal Situation in the Javanese Community Environment.
In Proceedings of the Annual Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities (ANCOSH 2018) - Revitalization of Local Wisdom in Global and Competitive Era, pages 450-453
ISBN: 978-989-758-343-8
Copyright © 2018 by SCITEPRESS – Science and Technology Publications, Lda. All rights reserved

2 VERBAL AND NON-VERBAL
LANGUAGE ATTITUDES
There are two types of language models in
communication, verbal and non-verbal languages.
Verbal language is a language produced by human
articulator tools (Pike, 1967; Thomas and Wareing,
2007). Indonesian non-verbal gesture signal
generated by body movement or gesture. In
communication, these two types of communication
play a very dominant role.
Given the conditions in Javanese language, verbal
languages must be balanced by the help of non-verbal
language. Especially in the case of speech level of
krama in Javanese language, the use will remain
polite if it is accompanied by a polite attitude shown
from the body language. For example in terms of
using the word inggih 'yes', it will enhance the sense
of politeness in case it is accompanied by the physical
act of nodding. In a case of expressing a word monggo
'please', will seem to be more polite if accompanied
by hand movements that direct it. In saying nyuwun
pangapunten 'apologize', it enhances politeness sense
if it is accompanied by palm motions (like worship)
in front of the chest, and so forth. All of it is also
accompanied by facial attitude, such as smiling.
Communication which character use of verbal and
non-verbal language, in addition to showing polite
attitude, also shows the speaker’s attitude of "andhap
asor" ‘sense of modesty’.
3 LANGUAGE ATTITUDE IN
THE CONTEXT OF
BILINGUALISM
Bilingualism is a phenomenon of using two (or more)
languages as a means of communication in society.
This bilingualism phenomenon exists among the
Indonesian society, the use of local language
(Javanese) and the national language (Indonesia).
Javanese community, i.e., in daily communication
using both the Javanese language and Indonesian in
an integrated manner. Each is entitled to certain
functions and contextual uses (Suwito, 1983).
In the context of language politeness, in response
to bilingual societies, Javanese speech levels of
krama can be attached to other languages, one of
which is the Indonesian language. This is normally
practiced at the time communicating using the
Indonesian language. However, both communicators
and communicants share common sense in terms of
the language background, especially Javanese
language. Kindly see and compare a few sentences in
table 1.
Table 1: Compared with two different types of language use
which occur under the same contextual circumstance.
Indonesian language
(pure)
Indonesia language (Code
mixing)
(1) Apakah Bapak sudah
pergi ke kantor, mbak?
‘Have you gone to the
office, sis?’
(1) Apakah Bapak sudah
tindak ke kantor, mbak?
(2) Saya mau datang ke
rumah Bapak.
‘ I want to come to your
house’
(2) Saya mau sowan ke
rumah Bapak.
(3) Belum Mas, Bapak
masih tidur.
‘Not yet sir, Dad is still
sleeping’
(3) Belum Mas, Bapak
masih sare.
Table 1 are compared with two different types of
language use which occur under the same contextual
circumstance. The first use of Indonesian language by
mixing code, the Indonesian language includes
elements of Javanese language. The expressed
Javanese element is seen in the Javanese speech
levels of krama. From the aspect of "sense", the
second type of language use is more respectful,
acceptable and more polite than the use of the first
type. This applies, if both language users share the
same cultural background. Thus, whether both
speaker and recipient confronts with formal or
somewhat formal situation, normally Indonesian
language use mixed with certain Javanese words of
krama as part of showing the speaker’s attitude of
respect, in the context of Javanese society and culture.
The use of Javanese language while maintaining a
well-mannered language use follow the Javanese
sayings of "wong Jawa sing ora ilang Jawane"‘a
Javanese will never lose his/her Javanism identity’.
4 SOME OF THE KRAMA
JAVANESE VOCABULARY
USE COMMONLY MIXED AND
INSERTED IN THE NON-
FORMAL INDONESIAN
CONVERSATION
Not all Javanese words of krama fit with the language
use in non-formal Indonesian conversations, although
both speakers share Javanese culture. The Javanese
Javanese Kramacode Mixing in the Indonesian Language Use of Non-formal Situation in the Javanese Community Environment
451

krama words that are more worthy to be inserted in
the conversation, are the everyday words of
commonly used by the Javanese speakers in the
context of "honoring" his/her speaking partners,
which is exceptional to the individual use of Javanese
language. Additionally, the krama words were used
particularly at the time making a conversation with
culturally respected people. The following table 2
show some randomly selected krama vocabulary use
by the speakers of Indonesian language in the non-
formal Indonesian conversation.
Table 2: some randomly selected krama vocabulary use by
the speakers of Indonesian language in the non-formal
Indonesian conversation.
Indonesian
words
The Krama
Javanese
words
Example of
Indonesian Sentence
pergi ‘go’ Tindak Mbak, Bapak sudah
tindak ke kantor?
datang
‘come’
Rawuh Terima kasih bapak-
bapak sudah rawuh di
acara ini.
makan ‘eat’ Dhahar Mari silahkan ibu-ibu
dhahar dulu!
minum
‘drink’
Ngunjuk Kalau ibu tidak mau
dhahar, ya ngunjuk
saja.
tidur ‘sleep’ Sare Mas tolong suara tv-
nya dikecilkan, bapak
sedang sare.
menemui
‘meet’
Sowan Maaf, apakah saya
nanti bisa sowan ke
rumah Bapak?
kamu ‘you’ sampeyan/p
anjenengan
Kalau sampeyan mau
datang ke rumah saya,
tentu saya senang.
bicara
‘speak’
matur/
ngendika
Tadi saya sudah
matur panjenengan
lho, kalau saya sedang
repot.
tahu ‘know’ Pirsa Bapak pirsa kan,
kalau anak kita lulus
ujian CPNS.
dengar
‘hear’
Mireng Mohon tidak bicara
sendiri-sendiri,
karena banyak tamu
yang tidak mireng
pembicaraan ini.
The vocabularies illustrated in above table is a
simple case of Javanese krama words, and which are
often used in everyday conversations by the Javanese
community. If the krama words are used in the
Indonesian language, especially non-formal, it
certainly encourages a sense of respect to people who
are invited to speak. Especially if it is taught to
children who use Indonesian language in everyday
conversation in their family.
5 THE APPLICATION OF
LANGUAGE BASED ON
UNIVERSAL VALUES
There are several universal values underlying the mix
of Javanese krama vocabulary in Indonesian
language use in the context of Javanese
environmental community, as follows.
5.1 Peace
Peace is considered to be the universal value desired
by every human being, or even by every living being
on earth. Peace may include other universal values.
The use of language, especially Javanese krama, both
speakers and speaking partners will be positioned
mutually beneficial. In other words no one is harmed
in that context. This condition provides peaceful
support for both speakers and speaking partners.
5.2 Honor
Javanese krama language is basically used in
conversation to honor other people whom we
speaking at. It is a kind of respecting the speaking
partners of either they have been older people or
considered old, share a position or a higher position,
not known for long, and others. This is the guidance
of Javanese society in socializing, which is based on
the philosophy of andap asor ‘modesty'.
5.3 Modesty
The use of Javanese krama vocabulary serves to
respect other people’s feeling. The attitude of respect
in speaking indicates the attitude of being humble to
the speaking partners. This, of course, gets feedback
from the person partner, the respect is given.
5.4 Love
People who wish to respect others by using krama
vocabulary in Indonesian conversation, normally
share a fundamental sense of love to each other. This
love of neighbour will foster peace amongst others
living society, especially those who get involved in a
certain conversation.
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452

6 CONCLUSIONS
Javanese language come into existence due to the
Javanese society, e in its application it requires the
speakers’ attitudes on "empan mapan". To whom and
how the Javanese language is used, it shows the
speakers’ characters (ajining dhiri gumantung saka
lathi). The language attitude is not only realize out of
the verbal language aspect (spoken language),
however, it should also be accompanied by the non-
verbal language (gesture). All of which is integrated
each other, thus both attitudes and speech remain
harmonized. In formal or rather formal
communication, by which the Indonesian language is
often used, it will incorporate some elements of
certain Javanese krama words, to build respect and
politeness. It can be fully undertaken if both
communicator and communicant share the same
Javanese language and culture.
REFERENCES
Pike, K. L., 1967. Language in relation to a unified theory
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Sasangka, S. S. T. W., Maryani, Y., 2004. Unggah-ungguh
bahasa Jawa, Yayasan Paramalingua.
Suwito, S., 1983. Pengantar Awal Sosiolinguistik. teori dan
Problema, Universitas Sebelas Maret. Surakarta.
Thomas, L., Wareing, S., 2007. Bahasa, Masyarakat, dan
Kekuasaan, Pustaka Pelajar. Yogyakarta.
Wilian, S., 2006. Tingkat Tutur dalam Bahasa Sasak dan
Bahasa Jawa. Wacana 8(1), 32-53.
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