cirebon cullinary 
Tukmudal Village, rich in history and cultural heritage, presents an intriguing case for linguistic exploration. The local dialect, influenced by both Javanese and Sundanese, features unique linguistic traits. I interviewed Rini (43) and Nida (20) as resource persons. This article delves into selected examples from Tukmudal speech, focusing on phonetics, phonology, morphology, phoneme structure, and vocabulary.
Phonetics and Phonology
A key phonetic trait in the Tukmudal dialect is the modification of consonants and vowels. For instance, “Abu” (ash) becomes “Awu.” Here, the bilabial plosive /b/ shifts to the approximant /w/, illustrating a phonetic softening. Pronounced as /’a.wu/, “Awu” reflects smoother articulation.
Another notable change is “Api” (fire) transforming into “Geni,” where the initial /a/and the /p/ consonant change to a voiced /g/. This showcases both vowel reduction and consonantal alternation. Phonologically, the Tukmudal dialect favors open syllables. For example, “Watu” (stone) replaces the harsher “Batu” with a softer articulation, reducing strong plosive sounds.
Morphological Patterns
Morphology in Tukmudal speech reveals active use of affixation and reduplication. “Apung” (to float) becomes “Ngambang,” where “Ng-” serves as an active prefix commonly seen in Javanese, signaling an ongoing action.
Similarly, “Berenang” (to swim) turns into “Adus-adusan,” where the reduplication “-adusan” conveys a playful or repetitive action. This morphological behavior reflects a dynamic and expressive language structure. Interestingly, some words like “Daging” (meat) maintain their original form, suggesting stability in essential vocabulary despite dialectal influences.
Phoneme System & Lexical Diversity
An analysis of phonemes shows that Tukmudal’s language heavily relies on vowel-rich compositions. The replacement of “Anjing” (dog) with “Kirik” not only involves a phonemic shift but also a movement toward softer sounds, incorporating /k/, /i/, and /r/. The frequent use of the velar nasal observed in words like “Angin” (wind) signifies adherence to the phonotactic norms typical of Javanese and Sundanese languages.
Tukmudal’s vocabulary is abundant and nuanced. For instance, “baik” (good) can be expressed as both “bagus” and “baik,” reflecting a wide range of synonyms. Words like “Anyar” (new) for “baru” and “Gede” (big) for “besar” highlight the richness of the local lexicon.
The preference for traditional terms, such as “Suket” (grass) over “Rumput,” underscores the community’s commitment to preserving older linguistic forms. Additionally, the use of “Getih” for “blood” instead of “Darah” reveals a strong connection to indigenous roots.
Conclusion
The dialect of Tukmudal Village offers valuable insights into regional linguistic diversity. Phonetic adaptations like consonant softening, morphological elements like affixation and reduplication, and a rich, traditional vocabulary paint a vivid picture of a living, evolving language.
Exploring the linguistic fabric of Tukmudal not only enriches our understanding of language evolution but also emphasizes the importance of protecting linguistic heritage in today’s globalized era.
