Jawareh Language Variation in Pabedilan: A Phonological, Morphological, and Lexical Review

Introduction
Language is a social and cultural identity that reflects the dynamics of the speaking community. In Pabedilan Village, Cirebon Regency, there is a language variety known as Jawareh-a mixture of Javanese and Sundanese. The uniqueness of Jawareh can be seen in the way the community combines elements of the two languages in daily conversation. This article analyzes Jawareh language variation from three main linguistic aspects: phonology, morphology, and lexical.

Methods
This study applies the analysis of Jawareh language variation in Pabedilan. Data were collected through direct interviews and observations with 5 native Pabedilan residents, 3 participants aged 20-40 years and 2 participants aged 41-65 years, participants were asked to translate selected Indonesian words into Sundanese or Jawareh as they are commonly used in daily life. The researcher used Swadesh’s 200-item word list, a standardized language to identify key vocabulary used across time and space. Thus, the results revealed language variation in phonological, morphological and lexical differences between the two speakers.

1. Phonology
In terms of phonology, the Jawareh language shows sound adaptations from Sundanese and Javanese. Example:
• The word “bapak” in Indonesian becomes “bapa” in Sundanese and ‘amang’/“abah” in the Jawareh variant.
• The word “dog” has shifted to “bagong” in the older age group, showing phonetic assimilation typical of local dialects.
Phenomena such as the omission of final vowels (“mam” from “eat”), and the alteration of initial or middle consonants (‘gebis’ from “fall”) also indicate the strong phonological influence of the local language on the standard form.

2. Morphology
The Jawareh language exhibits morphological processes such as:
Affixation: Many verbs undergo typical Sundanese affixation, such as “ngumbah” (to wash), ‘ngalir’ (to flow), or “ngabelem” (to burn).
• The prefix ma-/nga- is used productively, as in “maehan” (to kill), ‘mapah’ (to walk), or “maot” (to die).
• Morpheme shortening or contraction: such as “Muh” for “drink” in the 41-65 age group.
Morphology in Jawareh is very flexible, allowing word formation through a combination of Sundanese and Javanese morphemic systems, depending on the social context and age of the speakers.

3. Lexical
Lexical variation is the most striking aspect. Some examples from the data:

The older generation preserves classic Sundanese vocabulary through words such as ‘kukumbah’ and ‘pangambung’, which the younger generation now rarely uses, signaling a lexical shift between generations

Conclusion
The Jawareh language in Pabedilan is a typical representation of cultural and linguistic contact between Sundanese and Javanese ethnicities. In terms of phonology, morphology, and lexicon, there is clear mixing and adaptation that makes Jawareh a living and dynamic hybrid form. This variation also shows the stratification of the language based on age, which indicates the simultaneous change and preservation of the local language.

Find out more about Cirebon culture and tourism, please visit our website.