A PORTRAIT OF LANGUAGE SHIFT IN A JAVANESE FAMILY

Abstract

In the case study of a Javanese family from Semarang, the second generation speaks Javanese in the particular domains, based on status scale and social distance of the speakers. The members of second generation marry the men or women from similar race (Javanese). The third generation still speaks Javanese, even though they begin to speak Javanese Krama Inggil infrequently. They speak Ngoko Alus to the second generation. They prefer speaking Indonesian language (Bahasa) rather than Krama Inggil to acquaintances in order not to be entrapped to send messages impolitely. Intermarriage also makes it worse. They begin not to speak Javanese to their children. And this attitude is followed by similar attitude of those who marry Javanese men or women because of a few reasons. Attitude of the family offers disadvantages. Javanese is not seen as an important symbol of ethnic identity. The fourth generation of the family practically does not speak Javanese any longer. The second generation has to speak Indonesian language (Bahasa) to the fourth generation even though they are close family. In that case, positive attitude does not support efforts to use the ethnic language in a variety of domains.