cirebon cultural tourism 
Language is not just a communication tool. It is a breath of culture, a trace of history, and a mirror of a society’s perspective. Interestingly, among the many dialects in Indonesia, one that stands out with its uniqueness and cultural richness is the Cirebon Javanese language. This dialect lives and develops in the northern coastal area of West Java, including in the Kelurahan Kesepuhan area.
Despite the name “Javanese language,” Cirebon has a different flavor from the Javanese language known in Yogyakarta or Solo. “Sundanese, Arabic, Malay, and Chinese cultures have shaped the vocabulary, pronunciation, and structure of the Cirebonese language. In Kelurahan Kesepuhan, locals speak this language naturally—while chatting over coffee, bargaining in traditional markets, or taking part in cultural rituals passed down through generations. But how do these variations truly manifest in everyday conversations?
Let us explore it through three important linguistic aspects: phonology, morphology, and lexical.
What is Morphology, Lexical and Phonology?
Before we go any further, we need to get to know these three terms. Although they sound academic, the concepts are actually very close to daily life.
- Morphology examines the internal structure of words and explains how people form words in a language. Its primary focus is morphemes (the smallest unit of meaning).
- Lexical deals with vocabulary and the meaning of words in a language.
- Phonology is the study of the sounds of language. Speakers not only pronounce words, but also change meanings through sound.
Analysis of language variation in Kelurahan Kesepuhan
After making observations about culture and language in Kelurahan Kesepuhan, I interviewed two people as samples to find out how language variation occurs in the area. Here are some data results that I can present:
Morphology
| Indonesian Language | Respondent 1 (54 y.o) | Respondent 2 (22 y.o) |
| Berenang (Swimming) | Enggok | Ngenggok |
| Ikat (Tie) | Iket | Ngiket |
| Hisap (Sucking) | Sedot | Nyedot |
| Lihat (Look) | Deleng | Ndeleng |
| Minum (Drink) | Inum | Nginum |
Lexical
| Indonesian Language | Respondent 1 (54 y.o) | Respondent 2 (22 y.o) |
| Apung (Me-) (Floating) | Enggok | Ngenggok |
| Asap (Smoke) | Asep | Kebul |
| Belah (Split) | Nugel | Belek |
| Jalan (Walk) | Dalan | Mlaku |
| Lempar (Throw) | Alung | Balang |
| Saya (Me) | Kita | Isun |
Phonology
| Indonesian Language | Respondent 1 (54 y.o) | Respondent 2 (22 y.o) |
| Abu (Ash) | Awu | Abu |
| Bulu (Feather) | Bulu | Wulu |
In Kelurahan Kesepuhan, this variation is evident. The community uses a variety of Cirebon languages. Conversations and observations show how young people tend to use forms that are closer to Indonesian, on the other hand the older generation retains the more traditional local forms. For example, for the word ikat, some people use iket, while others call it ngiket– by adding the prefix ng– to give the impression of active action.
This richness of language not only shows differences in age or speech habits, but also reflects how regional languages continue to live, develop, and adapt in the midst of modernization.
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