cirebon natural tourism by: Nhaya Devina (12522006)
Phonological, Morphological, and Lexical Analysis in Astana Village Language is a reflection of culture and a marker of identity for a community. In the Cirebon region, particularly in Astana Village, the use of the local Javanese dialect displays notable differences from standard Indonesian. Specifically, these differences are evident in terms of sound (phonology), word formation (morphology), and vocabulary (lexicon). This study seeks to describe these distinctions through interviews with speakers from different generations and educational backgrounds.
The research collected the data through direct interviews with four informants, all residents of Astana Village, Gunung Jati District, Cirebon Regency. The first informant, Rofiqoh Nurdina, is a 21-year-old woman with a senior high school (SMA) educational background. The second, Madika, is 54 years old and completed elementary school (SD). The third informant, Afra Munifah, is a 20-year-old university student. The fourth, Kholifah, is a 56-year-old woman who has completed a bachelor’s degree (S1). These four informants were chosen to represent generational and educational differences in the use of the Cirebonese Javanese dialect within the local community.
Phonology
The findings of the study reveal notable variations in the use of the Cirebonese Javanese vocabulary among informants of different ages and educational levels. In terms of phonology, speakers demonstrate phonological variation through differences in pronunciation and sound realization. For instance, the words “oyot” and “oyod” both mean “root,” but they end with different consonants, [-t] and [-d], reflecting dialectal differences within Javanese. Other examples like “ngocor” and “ngerucuk” (both meaning “to flow”) differ in both consonants and vowels, indicating distinct regional accents or sub-dialects. Words such as “mlaku” and “melaku” (to walk) also show slight phonetic variation that may reflect individual speaking habits or micro-dialectal traits. These examples highlight how even speakers from the same Astana Village, Can pronounce words differently based on their background or speech habits.
Morphology
From a morphological perspective, speakers actively use various morphological processes, especially prefixation, which is typical in Javanese verb formation. They attach prefixes like “ng-“, “nge-“, “me-“, and “di-“ to root words to form verbs. For example, they use “ngupai” (to give), “ngeduk” (to dig), and “nembang” (to sing), showing how affixation plays a key role in word construction. Some speakers prefer alternative forms for the same action, such as “ngebelek” and “sigar” (to split), or “cengkerem” and “tanclep” (to stab), demonstrating morphological variation within the same semantic field. These patterns reflect the flexibility and richness of Javanese morphology in daily speech.
Lexical
In terms of lexicon, it is evident that a single word in Javanese can have a wide range of contextual meanings. speakers exhibit lexical diversity by choosing different words for the same meaning depending on personal or regional variation. For instance, for “father,” one speaker uses “bapak/mamak”, while another says “bapo”; for “mother,” some say “ibu/mimi”, others “mbok”. Pronouns like “kami” and “kita” also vary in use, showing differing interpretations of inclusive vs. exclusive plural forms. Additionally, unique word choices such as “ewu” (fruit) instead of the more common “buah”, or “ngeduk” instead of “nggali” (to dig), reveal the lexical richness and flexibility within the language. These differences suggest that age, education, and personal habits strongly influence lexical choice even within the same geographic location.
Overall, the results demonstrate that age and educational background influence language variation among speakers. Older individuals with less formal education tend to use more traditional and localized vocabulary. Conversely, younger and more educated speakers exhibit influences from standard Indonesian or more modern dialect forms. Nevertheless, geographical closeness and strong cultural ties help preserve the continuity and uniqueness of the Cirebonese dialect in everyday communication.
This highlights how generational and educational differences shape use in Astana Village. Older speakers with lower levels of formal education tend to retain original forms of Cirebonese Javanese. In contrast, younger speakers are more likely to use mixed forms or expressions influenced by Indonesian. Furthermore, the phonological, morphological, and lexical variations observed in this study enrich the local linguistic landscape and reflect the dynamic nature of regional languages amid national language influence.
