cirebon cultural tourism 
Linguistic variations in Cirebon language dialect of Trusmi Wetan represents one of the region’s cultural treasures, reflecting the social dynamics, age, and environment of its speakers. In daily use, this dialect shows diversity through four main aspects: lexical, phonological, morphological, and speech levels. Observations of two age groups—a 21-year-old university student and a 46-year-old resident—reveal striking variations in each of these aspects.
Linguistic Variations
1. Lexical
Differences in vocabulary or lexicon are among the most noticeable features. For instance, younger speakers commonly use the word awan to refer to “cloud,” while older speakers use mego. The word mego is a local lexical item that is increasingly rare among younger generations but remains present in the speech of older ones. This difference reflects a lexical shift influenced by education, media, and modern lifestyles.
Another example of linguistic variations in lexical:
| Bahasa | 1st respondent | 2nd respondent | Description |
| Ibu | Mimi | Mbok | Mimi is the form commonly used by the younger generation. Mbok is the older, more traditional form, typical of the older generation. |
| Danau | Danau | Balong | Danau is an Indonesian term more commonly used by the younger generation. Balong is the Cirebon language term for a large puddle of water, used by older people. |
| Laki-laki | Laki | Lanang | Laki is a common abbreviation for male used by the younger generation. Lanang is the Javanese vocabulary still used by the older generation. |
2. Phonological
The next language variation is phonological variation and this one olso prominent. For example, younger speakers pronounce the word “apa” in line with standard Indonesian, whereas older speakers say “apo”, indicating a vowel shift from “a” to “o”. Older speakers particularly preserve this pattern as a phonological hallmark of the Trusmi Wetan dialect.
Another example of linguistic variations in phonological:
| Bahasa | 1st respondent | 2nd respondent | Description |
| Bintang | Bintang | Lintang | /b/ → /l/, initial consonant substitution. |
| Ayah | Bapa | Bapo | /a/ → /o/, vowel substitution. |
| Bulan | Bulan | Wulan | /b/ → /w/, initial consonant substitution. |
3. Morphological
Morphological differences appear in verb formation. Younger speakers tend to use the simpler form hapus, while older speakers use ngapus. The form ngapus results from adding the prefix nga-, a feature of traditional Cirebon morphological structure. This highlights how word formation evolves over time while still preserving distinctive local elements among the older generation.
Another example of linguistic variations in morphological:
| Bahasa | 1st respondent | 2nd respondent | Description |
| Anak | Anak | Anake | /ə/ added as a suffix → final vowel insertion |
| Apung | Ngambang | Kambang | /ʔ/ → /ŋ/, onset nasalization (first); /ŋ/ → /k/, onset strengthening (second) |
| Pegang | Enceg | Ngenceg | ∅ → /ŋ/ at the beginning of a word → nasal prefix addition |
4. Speech Level
Speech level reflects social relationships and politeness in communication. Speakers of the Trusmi Wetan dialect show variation in their use of third-person plural pronouns. Younger speakers generally use kuen, a more formal and neutral form. Meanwhile, older speakers—especially those from less formal educational backgrounds—commonly use kabeane, which carries a more casual and intimate tone. This choice is not simply a linguistic matter but part of local norms and inherited social values. The older generation reflects the egalitarian and familiar social environment they grew up in.
Through an analysis of these four aspects, it is clear that the Cirebon language dialect of Trusmi Wetan is not a static entity. It continues to evolve and adapt to changing times while retaining its cultural roots. Each variation is not a sign of deviation but a reflection of the richness and diversity of the local language. Therefore, understanding and preserving this dialect is essential in maintaining the cultural identity of Cirebon in the face of ongoing modernization.
Written by: Adinda Nurul Ahista
