Indonesia is a country with a diverse range of languages and cultures. While Bahasa Indonesia is the national language, there are over 700 local languages spoken throughout the archipelago. Of these languages, Bahasa Jawa (also known as Javanese) is the most widely spoken local language in Indonesia, with 68,200,000 speakers in Indonesia (2015 UNSD), 95,200,000 ethnic population (2011 census), and 68,278,400 total users in all countries. (Ethnologue)
Bahasa Jawa is the language of the Javanese people, who make up the largest ethnic group in Indonesia. The Javanese people are primarily located on the island of Java, which is the most populous island in the country. The Javanese language has a rich history and culture, and it continues to be an important part of Indonesian identity.
A Brief History of Bahasa Jawa
Javanese (Bahasa Jawa) is believed to have originated from Old Javanese, which was spoken in Java during the 8th century. Old Javanese (Bahasa Jawa Tua) was heavily influenced by Sanskrit, which was the language of ancient India. As Java became an important center for trade and commerce, the language began to evolve and absorb words and phrases from other languages, including Arabic, Dutch, and Portuguese.
During the colonial period, Bahasa Jawa was used as a language of education and literature, and many important literary works were written in Bahasa Jawa. However, with the rise of nationalism and the push for a unified national language, Bahasa Indonesia became the language of education and government, and Javanese was relegated to a secondary status.
Despite this, Javanese (Bahasa Jawa) remains an important language for the Javanese people, and efforts have been made to preserve and promote the language. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in Javanese culture and language, and many schools and universities offer courses in Javanese language and literature.
Javanese Language and Culture
Javanese language (Bahasa Jawa) and culture are deeply intertwined. The Javanese language has a complex system of honorifics, which reflect the social hierarchy and status of the speaker and listener. The language also has a rich literary tradition, with many important works of poetry, drama, and philosophy written in Javanese.
In addition to its literary tradition, Javanese culture is known for its music, dance, and visual arts. Traditional Javanese music is characterized by a unique style of gamelan music, which is played on a set of percussion instruments. Javanese dance is known for its graceful movements and intricate hand gestures, and it often tells stories from Javanese mythology and history.
===
Visit our home page.