NO WORRIES ABOUT JAVANESE: A STUDY OF PREVELANCE IN THE USE OF JAVANESE IN TRADITIONAL MARKETS

Abstract

This study explored Javanese in Semarang traditional markets to see to what extent it is prevalently used as a lingua franca in the capital city of Central Java, especially the traditional markets where it is assumed that Javanese is still used in transactions. It also proposed a challenge to Sneddon’ study (2003:203) stating that in reality, speakers of many vernaculars in Indonesia are getting less and less as caused by lingua franca and language shift The data were obtained through a short and simple questionnaire to be administered to traditional vendors at three traditional markets. Field note-taking on overheard use of Javanese was undertaken to support the findings. Frequency counts (percentage) were used in the data analysis to investigate the prevalence of use of Javanese, especially during transaction, the results of which were tabulated for ease of interpretation. The current study revealed that, in traditional markets in Semarang, Javanese is still prevalently used in transaction with respect to language functions, such as offering, requesting for increased prices, final deals. However, code-switching was dominantly used during the process of transaction. Javanese significantly was also overheard for different functional purposes as recorded in the field note. Therefore the study concludes that Javanese is prevalently used in traditional markets in Semarang. The study therefore somehow supports Sneddon’s (2003:203) with respect to code-switching. Further studies are still encouraged especially the employment of ethnographic investigation.