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Language is a living entity that constantly evolves, adapting to the times, environments, and cultures of its speakers. This dynamic nature of language leads to various changes not just in vocabulary, but also in sound structures (phonology) and the way words are formed (morphology).
In the Indonesian context, especially in regions rich in linguistic diversity like Gunung Jati in Cirebon, these particularly evident. The area is known for its use of Javanese, specifically the Cirebonese dialect, which influences how words are pronounced, structured, and selected in daily conversation.
This article explores these types of language change through several examples: tanah → lemah, hujan → udan, ekor → buntut, asap → kebul, batu → watu, basah → teles, and pekerjaan → pegawean.
Speakers make phonological changes when they alter the sounds in a word without changing its meaning. For instance, they change hujan to udan by dropping the /h/ sound and simplifying the syllable jan to dan.
In the same way, they replace the /b/ in batu with /w/ to say watu, which reflects a common pattern in Javanese and especially in the Cirebonese dialect.
When they use teles instead of basah, they completely change the sound structure, although the meaning stays the same.
These sound shifts usually result from regional pronunciation habits, simplification in speech, or cultural integration into local dialects.
Speakers create morphological changes by modifying the internal structure of words. For example, they turn pekerjaan into pegawean.
In standard Indonesian, pekerjaan combines the root kerja with the affixes pe- and -an.
In the Cirebonese context, speakers use gawe—a Javanese equivalent of kerja—and still apply the same affixes, forming pegawean.
This example shows how speakers adapt both the lexical root and affixation system to reflect local usage, while maintaining a recognizable word-formation pattern.
Speakers produce lexical changes when they substitute a word entirely with another that has the same meaning.
Similarly, they use kebul instead of asap, and teles instead of basah. In these cases, speakers don’t just change pronunciation; they use entirely different vocabulary rooted in local or traditional language.
For instance, they replace ekor with buntut—both mean “tail,” but buntut is more common in many regional dialects.
One clear example is how they replace tanah with lemah in Javanese. Although both words mean “soil,” they come from different linguistic roots, making this a pure case of lexical substitution not morphological derivation.
Speakers constantly reshape language in multilingual societies like Indonesia. In places like Gunung Jati, Cirebon, where local dialects merge with standard Indonesian, their speech reveals patterns of identity and cultural inheritance. By observing these shiftswhether in sounds, structures, or word choices we gain deeper insight into how language lives, adapts, and reflects the communities that use it.
