QUESTIONING JAVANESE LANGUAGE VALUE AND VITALITY WITH ITS MILLIONS OF SPEAKERS

Abstract

Javanese holds the top rank of local language used in Indonesia for its biggest speakers noted. When many may worry about language endangerment, Javanese may not be one of them. Its high percentage usage makes people believe that this language is ‘safe’. Whereas, when we see deeper, Javanese language everyday spoken is Ngoko register (low Javanese). That is not enough since Javanese also has a high style one, Krama register. And in fact, the values of Javanese language mostly rely on this neglected register (high Javanese). Coming from that reality, this paper will discuss the value loss of Javanese language, especially in the case of conversation use. Different registers (language styles) accurately play different roles for communication, either parents with children or vice versa. Yet what happening nowadays on Javanese language use seems to be far different from what it should be. Krama register is not commonly used anymore in its proper use although it has higher position than Ngoko register. That phenomenon is even acknowledged as the acceptable one. People are driven to softly leave the proper use of Javanese language containing priceless values. Then its vitality is respectively being questioned, too.