Cirebon historical tourism 
Language is one of the important elements in people’s lives. Because it not only functions as a means of communication, but also as a reflection of cultural and social identity. In the northern coastal area of Java, precisely in Kalisari Village, Losari District. Cirebon Regency. language is an inseparable part of people’s daily lives. Kalisari Village has a strong cultural and linguistic influence from the Cirebon region, West Java.
The Cirebon dialect of Javanese in Kalisari Village, Losari District. Tis part of the local cultural wealth that reflects the social dynamics, age, and environment of its speakers. This dialect is used in everyday life and shows language variation in four main aspects: lexical, phonological, morphological, and speech level. Observations of two age groups—young people in their 20s. Then older people over 45 years old—show striking differences in the use of the language.
1. Lexical
Lexical or vocabulary variation is the most striking between the younger and older generations. Young speakers tend to use vocabulary that is more influenced by Indonesian or simplified forms, while the older generation maintains local terms typical of Kalisari.
Example of lexical differences in Kalisari Village:
| Indonesian Language | Young Respondents | Old Respondents | Description |
| Kamu | Sira | Ira | Sira is more common among young people; ira is more refined and traditional, commonly used by older people. |
| Membelah | Mecah | Nyigar | Mecah tends to be more universal, nyigari is more local, typical of Kalisari. |
| Mengalir | Ngucur | Mili | Mili sounds more formal; ngucur is more expressive, often used by older people. |
2. Phonology
Phonological aspects also show variations, especially in the pronunciation of vowels and consonants. Older speakers tend to maintain the old pronunciation forms typical of the Losari area and its surroundings.
| Indonesian Language | Young Respondents | Old Respondents | Description |
| Apa | Apa | Apo | Changes in vowels /a/ → /o/ at the end of words. |
| Kita | Kita | Kito | A similar vowel shift reflects the characteristics of East Cirebon. |
3. Morphology
Morphological variations appear in the formation of verbs or affixes. Older people use more forms that contain traditional prefixes typical of Javanese-Cirebon.
| Indonesian Language | Young Respondents | Old Respondents | Description |
| Makan | Mangan | Mangane | “Mangané” has the suffix -é to indicate possession or specification. |
| Lama | Suwe | Kesuwen | “Kesuwen” has the additional “ke” and “en” which are used to express that something lasts for a long time. |
The level of speech in the Kalisari community reflects social relations, respect, and local norms. The older generation tends to use a more polite form rooted in the structure of refined Javanese, while the younger generation tends to be more relaxed and mixes Indonesian. The variations that appear in lexical, phonological, morphological, and levels of speech are not forms of deviation, but rather representations of living local identities. These differences enrich our understanding of the diversity of regional languages and the importance of maintaining their sustainability amidst the currents of modernization.
Written by : Serly Marlina
