TARLING MUSIC AS A MEANS OF MAINTAINING INDIGENOUS JAVANESE LANGUAGE AT NORTHERN COAST (

Abstract

This paper aims to investigate the existence of traditional music like “tarling” as a means of maintaining indigenous Javanese language at Northern Coast areas (“Pantai Utara” or “Pantura” for short)in the Provinces of West Java and Central Java. The word ‘tarling’ itself stands for guitar and suling—a traditional flute made of bamboo. This kind of music is commonly heard by communities who live in Indramayu and Cirebon (located in the Province of West Java) and those ones in Brebes, Tegal and Slawi (located in the Province of Central Java)People living in those areas get used to communicating in Javanese language with typically strong accent or dialect which other Javanese speakers at the Eastern area—such as: in Semarang, Solo, and Yogyakarta—call it basa ngapak. The way they communicate in Javanese with basa ngapak is assumed rather rude and impolite even though the assumption cannot be truly generalized. In addition, speaking Javanese with basa ngapak has formed the people of the communities to be proud of their self identity because their Javanese language speaking is unique. While listening to the music and trying to understand the lyrics of the songs, there are some moral values that show how to well behave and interact in social life. It proves that tarling maintains and supports local wisdom through music since music has become a universal means to deliver someone’s intention.