Religiousness in Javanese Language and Culture Communication: A Sociopragmatic Study in Java Island, Indonesia

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63931/ijchr.v7i1.112

Keywords:

Java Island, Javanese Language, Oral and Written Discourse, Religious, Sociopragmatics

Abstract

This research aims to explore religious aspects in the Javanese language through a sociopragmatic approach, focusing on the regions of Central Java, East Java, and Yogyakarta in Java Island. The study examines how religious elements are reflected in the daily use of the Javanese language, both in spoken and written forms. The research methods used include observation, interviews, and document analysis to collect comprehensive data. The study reveals that religious aspects in the Javanese language not only reflect the beliefs and religious practices of the Javanese people but also play a crucial role in shaping social interactions and language structure. Religious elements are evident in various contexts, such as the use of specific terms in formal and informal communication, the expression of prayers or gratitude, and the use of language as a medium in religious rituals. The findings indicate that the Javanese language possesses interconnected social and spiritual functions, enriching the understanding of the relationship between language and culture. This research also contributes to sociolinguistic and pragmatic studies, particularly in understanding the role of language as a reflection of deeply rooted religious values in society. Consequently, this research opens further discussions on the preservation of the Javanese language as a cultural heritage rich in religious values.

Author Biographies

Muhammad Rohmadi, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Indonesia

Faculty

Prasetyo Adi Wisnu Wibowo, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Indonesia

Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Indonesia

Memet Sudaryanto, Universitas Jenderal Soedirman, Indonesia

Universitas Jenderal Soedirman, Indonesia

Kundharu Saddhono, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Indonesia

Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Indonesia

References

[1] Afandi, A. J. (2023). Islam and Local Culture: The Acculturation Formed by Walisongo in Indonesia. Indonesian Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 4(1), 103-124. https://doi.org/10.33367/ijhass.v4i1.4135

[2] Ajie, P., Habsari, S. K., Ardianto, D. T., & Saddhono, K. (2023). Javanese Language Representation: A Dialogue and Expression ala Kethoprak in the Film Nyumbang. Lingua Cultura, 17(1), 109-119. https://doi.org/10.21512/lc.v17i1.9586 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21512/lc.v17i1.9586

[3] Al Amin, N. U., Taufik, E. T., Mufidatunrofiah, S., & Rifai, I. A. (2020). Kejawen, Multiculturalism, and Principles of the Qur’an: Transformation and Resupposition of QS. al-Kafirun (109): 6 in Urip Sejati Community of Yogyakarta. ESENSIA: Jurnal Ilmu-Ilmu Ushuluddin, 21(1), 71-90. https://doi.org/10.14421/esensia.v21i1.2195 DOI: https://doi.org/10.14421/esensia.v21i1.2195

[4] Aragon, L. V. (2021). Regulating Religion and Recognizing Animist ‘Beliefs’ in Indonesian Law and Life. Religious Pluralism in Indonesia: Threats and Opportunities for Democracy. Ithaca, 135-162. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781501760464-009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.7591/cornell/9781501760433.003.0007

[5] Aristiyanto, R., Rizkiana, Y., Arif, S., Warpaatun, W., & Musdalifah, M. (2023). Integrating Javanese Culture in Modern Education: Preserving Traditions in the Modern Era. Lembaran Ilmu Kependidikan, 52(2), 155-163. https://doi.org/10.15294/lik.v52i2.45347

[6] Allo, M. D. G., Nyhof, M., La’biran, R., Sudarsi, E. T., Taula’bi, N., & Basongan, W. (2024). The Intricate Tapestry of Toraja Spirituality: An Exploration of Animism, Ancestor Veneration, and Symbolic Rituals. International Journal of Religion, 5(9), 37-45. https://doi.org/10.61707/q4115w74 DOI: https://doi.org/10.61707/q4115w74

[7] Gumelar, N. A., & Saddhono, K. (2024). The The oral tradition of Syahadat Kures: Core and initial foundations of Surakarta Kasunanan palace rule, Central Java Indonesia. Multidisciplinary Reviews, 7(8), 2024199-2024199. https://doi.org/10.31893/multirev.2024169 DOI: https://doi.org/10.31893/multirev.2024169

[8] Idham, N. C. (2021). Javanese islamic architecture: Adoption and adaptation of javanese and hindu-buddhist cultures in indonesia. Journal of Architecture and Urbanism, 45(1), 9-18. https://doi.org/10.3846/jau.2021.13709 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3846/jau.2021.13709

[9] Isbah, F. (2020). Pesantren in the changing indonesian context: History and current developments. Qudus International Journal of Islamic Studies (QIJIS), 8(1), 65-106. https://doi.org/10.21043/qijis.v8i1.5629 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21043/qijis.v8i1.5629

[10] Ekawati, M., & Katrini, Y. E. (2022). Indonesian Language for Java Ethnic: Language and Cultural Problems. Journal of Legal and Cultural Analytics, 1(3), 151-160. https://doi.org/10.55927/jlca.v1i3.1190 DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/jlca.v1i3.1190

[11] Kristina, A. (2021). The Position of Kejawen in the Indonesian Constitution. Dinika: Academic Journal of Islamic Studies, 6(2), 291-308. https://doi.org/10.22515/dinika.v6i2.4651 DOI: https://doi.org/10.22515/dinika.v6i2.4651

[12] Heriyanti, R., & Ma’ruf, A. (2021). How Mothers Use Banyumas Dialect to Their Children and Their Friends in Purwokerto. In 6th International Conference on Education & Social Sciences (ICESS 2021) (pp. 288-292). Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.210918.053 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.210918.053

[13] Muharrom, M. V., Saddhono, K., & Djoko, S. (2023). Symbolic Meaning of Mantra Ujub and Kidung in Ganti Langse Traditional Ceremony as a Guide to the Life of the People of Babadan Village, Ngawi Regency, Indonesia. Journal of Urban Culture Research, 27, 104-120. https://doi.org/10.14456/jucr.2023.26

[14] Pamungkas, O. Y., Ma’rifataini, L. D., Warnis, W., Zuhrah, F., Purwoko, D., & Masjid, A. A. (2024). Exploring the cultural significance of Javanese literature: A Study of Mantras. International Journal of Society, Culture & Language, 12(2), 138-149. https://doi.org/10.22034/ijscl.2024.2025848.3440

[15] Putro, R. P., Rohmadi, M., Rakhmawati, A., & Saddhono, K. (2021). Religiusitas Islam dalam Serat Wedhatama Pupuh Gambuh. Jurnal SMART (Studi Masyarakat, Religi, dan Tradisi), 7(01), 71-84. https://doi.org/10.18784/smart.v7i01.1273 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18784/smart.v7i01.1273

[16] Rohmadi, M., Sudaryanto, M., Susanto, D. A., Saddhono, K., & Saputra, A. D. (2023). Sociopragmatic study of Javanese oral discourse in big city communities as an effort to maintain indigenous language. Research Journal in Advanced Humanities, 4(4). https://doi.org/10.58256/rjah.v4i4.1290 DOI: https://doi.org/10.58256/rjah.v4i4.1290

[17] Ruslan, I., Abshar, R. U., & Isnaeni, A. (2024). Potential of Traditions and Belief in Almighty God (YME) and Management Strategies for Cultural Resilience in Indonesia. Analisis: Jurnal Studi Keislaman, 24(1), 85-112. https://dx.doi.org/10.24042/ajsk.v24i1.22383

[18] Rusmana, D., Rosidin, D. N., Saefullah, A., Burhanudin, D., & bin Zainuddin, G. (2024). Strengthening Moral Education Values: Sociological Analysis of the Mbah Sholeh Haolan at Pesantren Benda Kerep, Cirebon. Ulumuna, 28(1), 424-452. https://doi.org/10.20414/ujis.v28i1.1050 DOI: https://doi.org/10.20414/ujis.v28i1.1050

[19] Saddhono, K., & Hartanto, W. (2021). A dialect geography in Yogyakarta-Surakarta isolect in Wedi District: An examination of permutation and phonological dialectometry as an endeavor to preserve Javanese language in Indonesia. Heliyon, 7(7). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07660 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07660

[20] Saputra, A. D., Ginting, D. O. B., Pramadhanti, D. F., Muftihah, N., & Saddhono, K. (2023). Indonesian language learning based on ecological intelligence: A case of Bengawan Solo Nature School. Research Journal in Advanced Humanities, 4(3), 124-138. https://doi.org/10.58256/rjah.v4i3.1276 DOI: https://doi.org/10.58256/rjah.v4i3.1276

[21] Sartini, S. (2021). Mysticism in Javanese Shamans: Morality Toward God. Journal of Indonesian Islam, 15(1), 129-148. https://doi.org/10.15642/JIIS.2021.15.1.129-148 DOI: https://doi.org/10.15642/JIIS.2021.15.1.129-148

[22] Siregar, I. (2021). The Existence of Culture in its Relevance to the Dynamics of Globalization: Bahasa Indonesia Case Study. International Journal of Cultural and Religious Studies, 1(1), 33-38. https://doi.org/10.32996/ijcrs.2021.1.1.5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32996/ijcrs.2021.1.1.5

[23] Sobaya, S., Pusparini, M. D., & Achiria, S. (2023). Javanese local wisdom values for development from an Islamic perspective. Journal of Islamic Economics Lariba, 9(1), 57-78. https://doi.org/10.20885/jielariba.vol9.iss1.art4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.20885/jielariba.vol9.iss1.art4

[24] Soenjoto, W. P. P. (2022). Islam kejawen as an adoption of local wisdom and Islamic development in Javanese communities. SHAHIH: Journal of Islamicate Multidisciplinary, 7(1), 67-76. https://doi.org/10.22515/shahih.v7i1.4134 DOI: https://doi.org/10.22515/shahih.v7i1.4134

[25] Sumbulah, U., Purnomo, A., & Jamilah, J. (2022). Islam, local wisdom and religious harmony: religious moderation in east-java christian village bases. El Harakah, 24(1), 21. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18860/eh.v24i1.16264 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18860/eh.v24i1.16264

[26] Suroso, E., & Rohmadi, M. (2023). Mystical Implicature of Javanese Mantras: From Lingual to Transcendental?. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 13(9), 2384-2391. https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1309.26 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1309.26

[27] Syihabuddin, M., Mustofa, M. L., Nurbaiti, D., & Wafi, H. A. (2024). The Construction Of Javanese Islamic Ethics in Serat Wedhatama: Karl Mannheim's Sociology Of Knowledge Approach. Al-Qalam, 30(2), 317-329. http://dx.doi.org/10.31969/alq.v30i2.1550 DOI: https://doi.org/10.31969/alq.v30i2.1550

[28] Tohe, A. (2021). Revisiting The Concept Of The Javanese Islam: Genealogy, Academic Representation, And Cultural Strategy. Al-A'raf: Jurnal Pemikiran Islam dan Filsafat, 18(2), 184-231. https://doi.org/10.22515/ajpif.v18i2.3966 DOI: https://doi.org/10.22515/ajpif.v18i2.3966

[29] Udasmoro, W., Yuwono, J. S. E., Firmonasari, A., Astuti, W. T., & Baskoro, B. R. S. (2023). The Preservation of the Javanese Language in the Special Region of Yogyakarta. Indonesian Journal of Geography, 55(1), 59-68. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22146/ijg.68183 DOI: https://doi.org/10.22146/ijg.68183

[30] Wulandari, A., & Nurdiati, R. P. (2023). Javanese Language Lesson at School as a Form of Strengthening Cultural Identity in Yogyakarta. In Proceedings of International Conference on Communication Science (Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 131-141). https://doi.org/10.29303/iccsproceeding.v3i1.812 DOI: https://doi.org/10.29303/iccsproceeding.v3i1.812

[31] Zuhri, Z. (2022). Beyond Syncretism: Evidence of the Vernacularization of Islamic Theological Terms in Javanese Literature in the 19th Century. Al-Jami'ah: Journal of Islamic Studies, 60(2), 373-398. https://doi.org/10.14421/ajis.2022.602.373-398 DOI: https://doi.org/10.14421/ajis.2022.602.373-398

Downloads

Published

2025-06-16

How to Cite

Rohmadi, M., Wibowo, P. A. W., Sudaryanto, M., & Saddhono, K. (2025). Religiousness in Javanese Language and Culture Communication: A Sociopragmatic Study in Java Island, Indonesia. International Journal on Culture, History, and Religion, 7(1), 19–37. https://doi.org/10.63931/ijchr.v7i1.112

Similar Articles

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.