Language in West Java

Language

The majority of the people in West Java speak the Sundanese language with its various dialects as a means of communication. Because of the Javanese influence, when the Sunda Java lands was under the authority of Mataram, a kingdom in Central Java, the Sundanese language knows classes, called “undak-usuk” basa, I, e. the use of language according to the social classes. So, the language has “high” and “low” form. In principle the undak-usuk basa claims that every language user be loyal to the stimulated use of certain words for certain people according to his or her position or class in society. These words are in fact just synonyms, but the use may not be mixed up. When this happens, the speaker is considered violating the code of conduct, because he is regarded uneducated and impolite. This, however, does not hold for foreigners and visitor.

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