cirebon natural tourism Language is one of the essential elements in the social life of a community. It serves as both a communication tool and a reflection of a community’s culture and history. In Indonesia, the diversity of regional languages is one of the cultural strengths that should be respected and studied. One area that shows fascinating language variation is Cupang Village, located in Gempol District, Cirebon Regency, West Java Province
Cupang Village has a unique geographical position because it is located at the border between Sundanese and Javanese cultures. Even though it is located close to regions dominated by Javanese speakers, people in Cupang Village still use Sundanese in their daily lives. Interestingly, the Sundanese in this area shows noticeable language variation. These differ from the standard form used in Bandung or Garut.. We can see these variations in phonological, morphological, and lexical aspects.
We will describe and analyze these forms of language variation based on empirical data obtained from the Swadesh list of 200 basic vocabulary words. The data were collected through interviews and direct note-taking from native speakers, consisting of several generations, ranging from the younger generation to the older generation.
1. Phonological
Phonology variations indicate a systematic shift in sound patterns that align with traditional Sundanese phonetics. Phonological variation is one of the most noticeable aspects of the local dialect. In Cupang Village, several words show different pronunciation patterns compared to both Indonesian and standard Sundanese.
These differences include vowel changes, consonant deletions, and diphthong additions. For example, the Indonesian word asap becomes aseup in the local dialect, reflecting the insertion of the diphthong -eu-, a characteristic of Sundanese phonology. The word benar shifts to bener, showing a vowel change from a to e. Similarly, tahun becomes taun, showing consonant deletion, and tanah changes to taneuh, again with diphthong insertion.
2. Morphological
Morphology patterns show the continued use of original affixation rules. Morphological patterns in Cupang Village reflect the productive use of native Sundanese affixes, particularly in verb forms. For example, the verb alir in Indonesian corresponds to ngalir in the local dialect, with the prefix nga- indicating a verbal form typical of Sundanese grammar.
The word cium becomes nyium, showing prefix addition with ny-. Additionally, verbs lempar become balangkeun or alungkeun feature the suffix -keun, indicating the extension or directionality of the action.
3. Lexical
Lexical variation reveals the depth of cultural representation. Word choices are determined by social context, emotional tone, and speaker relationships. Lexical variation is probably the most culturally significant component of dialect. In Cupang Village, several words may be used to refer to the same concept, often influenced by generational habits, social settings, or levels of formality.
For example, people express the word anak as budak or murangkalih, and ibu as indung or ema—with the latter word carrying more intimate connotations. People describe makan as dahar or madang, depending on the setting. Similarly, lihat (to see) may appear as tempo or deuleu, and beri (to give) as mere or masihan, depending on the formality.
Overall, these language variations show that the way people speak Sundanese in Cupang Village is quite special, with its unique sounds, word forms, and vocabulary. Even though the village is close to areas where Javanese is more common, the people there still firmly hold on to their local version of Sundanese and pass it down through generations.
This research helps preserve local language differences by observing and recording how people use the language. It gives us a better understanding of how minor regional dialects change over time while still keeping their cultural identity. This phenomena also reminds us that language is something alive. It grows and adapts, but still stays connected to its roots.
Written by: Syifa Fauziyah (12522007)
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