cirebon cullinary We know that language is the most essential communication tool. Moreover, each language has various forms according to its country of origin. Even more specifically, within one country, there can be different styles of speaking in every area. This linguistic variation highlights how dynamic and complex the language system is. One fascinating example worth studying is the speech style found in Mandala Village, Dukupuntang District, Cirebon Regency.
Mandala Village is known as a community that still actively maintains local traditions and culture, including the use of its regional language. Notably, it is one of the villages in Dukupuntang where Sundanese is predominantly spoken. However, the variety of Sundanese used in Mandala Village carries distinct features that set it apart from those spoken in other regions. To better understand these differences, researchers have categorized them into three major linguistic aspects: phonology, morphology, and lexicon.
To gather data, the researchers conducted direct fieldwork with Mandala villagers, focusing on two age groups: 20–30 years old and 31–50 years old. Consequently, this study aims to explore how everyday language not only survives but also adapts within its cultural and environmental context.
1. Phonology aspect
The Phonology aspect studies the sounds of language that function to distinguish the meaning of words. In Mandala village, there are distinctive sounds:
Vowel Changes
- Abu → lebu
- Basah → baseh
- Tanah → taneh
- Tipis → ipis
These changes indicate a vowel shift from ‘a’ to ‘e’ or the omission of an initial consonant, reflecting the distinctive features of local pronunciation
Consonant Changes:
- Lidah → letah
- Ludah → ciduh
Moreover, there are changes in the initial or medial consonants of words, which introduce distinct phonetic nuances in the local dialect.
2. Morphological aspect
Aspects relating to the structure of words and the process of their formation. Here are some examples in Mandala Village:
· Affixation
The morphological aspect reflects how language forms meaning through the process of word formation. One example from Desa Mandala is the word “baring” (to lie down), which in the local Sundanese language is expressed as “ngarengkol.” This word is the result of a combination of “nga” + “rengkol,” which morphologically indicates the action of lying down or reclining in everyday contexts. Unlike Indonesian, which uses the singular form “baring,” the word “ngarengkol” shows a more complex and distinctive word formation process, reflecting a local language structure that is still alive and evolving.
Other examples of words include:
- Mengalir → ngalir
- Berjalan → lempang-lempang
- Cuci → kumbah, nyeseh
The use of affixes such as ‘ng-‘ and word reduplication shows the distinctive morphological processes in this local language.
· Reduplication
Berjalan → lempang-lempang
Reduplication is used to emphasize or clarify the meaning of a word in a particular context.
3. Lexical aspects
The lexical aspect encompasses the vocabulary and the meanings conveyed through language. In the case of Mandala Village, certain words carry special or culturally specific meanings, such as:
- Anak → budak
- Baik → sae, cageur
- Balik → uih, mulang
- Baru → anyar
- Hati → hate
This vocabulary reflects the lexical richness and subtle shades of meaning in the local language, which enhance both communication and cultural expression among the local people.
An analysis of the phonological, morphological, and lexical aspects of the language spoken in Mandala Village reveals the richness and uniqueness of the local language. Specifically, changes in sounds, word structures, and specialized vocabulary reflect the strong cultural identity and linguistic dynamics of the community. Furthermore, this study, which involved residents aged 20–30 years and 31–50 years, showed that despite some modern language adaptations, the identity of the traditional language remains firmly rooted in their daily lives.
Author: Elza Anindita Sugiarto
