Language/Javanese/Culture/Social-Etiquette

◀️ Politeness Levels — Previous Lesson

Javanese → Culture → 0 to A1 Course → Javanese Customs and Etiquette → Social Etiquette

Introduction

Welcome to the lesson on Javanese social etiquette! In this lesson, we will explore the important customs and etiquette that are deeply ingrained in Javanese culture. Understanding and respecting these social norms is crucial for building meaningful relationships with Javanese people and immersing yourself in their rich cultural heritage. By the end of this lesson, you will gain valuable insights into Javanese greetings, gift-giving, and the importance of respecting elders. So, let's dive into the fascinating world of Javanese customs and etiquette!

Greetings and Introductions

Basic Greetings

In Javanese culture, greetings play a vital role in everyday interactions. They serve as a way to show respect, establish rapport, and create a friendly atmosphere. Here are some basic Javanese greetings you can use:

Javanese	Pronunciation	English Translation
"Sugeng enjing"	"su-geng en-jing"	Good morning
"Sugeng siang"	"su-geng si-ang"	Good afternoon
"Sugeng dalu"	"su-geng da-lu"	Good evening
"Sugeng riyadi"	"su-geng ri-ya-di"	Good night
"Sugeng rawuh"	"su-geng ra-wuh"	Welcome

Introducing Yourself

When introducing yourself in Javanese, it is customary to share not only your name but also additional information about yourself. This helps establish a deeper connection with the person you are conversing with. Here's an example of how to introduce yourself in Javanese:

"Nggih, kula ageng (Your Name). Kula saking (Your Place of Origin). Kula wonten ing (Your Current Location). Seneng tresna kula (Your Hobbies/Interests)."

Translation: "Yes, I am (Your Name). I come from (Your Place of Origin). I am currently residing in (Your Current Location). My hobbies/interests are (Your Hobbies/Interests)."

Feel free to adapt this introduction template according to your own details. Remember to speak slowly and clearly to ensure proper pronunciation.

Sentence Structure

Subject-Verb-Object

In Javanese, the sentence structure follows the Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) pattern, similar to English. Here's an example:

"Kula mangan rujak."

Translation: "I eat rujak."

Let's break down the sentence:

- "Kula" is the subject, which means "I" in English. - "Mangan" is the verb, which means "eat" in English. - "Rujak" is the object, referring to the type of food.

Remember to pay attention to the word order when constructing sentences in Javanese, as it differs from other languages.

Questions and Negations

To form questions in Javanese, you can simply add the question word "apa" (what) or "sapa" (who) at the beginning of the sentence. For example:

"Apa kula mangan?"

Translation: "What am I eating?"

To negate a sentence in Javanese, you can use the negation particle "ora" (not) before the verb. Here's an example:

"Kula ora mangan rujak."

Translation: "I am not eating rujak."

Practice forming questions and negations using different verbs and objects to reinforce your understanding of Javanese sentence structure.

Numbers and Time

Numbers 1-10

Learning numbers in Javanese is essential for everyday communication, especially when discussing quantities, prices, or telling the time. Here are the Javanese numbers from 1 to 10:

Javanese	Pronunciation	English Translation
"siji"	"si-ji"	one
"loro"	"lo-ro"	two
"telu"	"te-lu"	three
"papat"	"pa-pat"	four
"limo"	"li-mo"	five
"enem"	"e-nem"	six
"pitu"	"pi-tu"	seven
"wolu"	"wo-lu"	eight
"sanga"	"san-ga"	nine
"sepuluh"	"se-pu-luh"	ten

Practice counting from 1 to 10 in Javanese until you feel comfortable with the pronunciation and usage of these numbers.

Telling Time

Telling time in Javanese follows a similar structure to English. Here's how you can express hours, minutes, and seconds in Javanese:

"Jam <hours> <minutes> <seconds>."

For example:

"Jam sewelas loro sasi."

Translation: "It's eleven minutes and two seconds."

Remember to use the Javanese numbers you learned earlier to express the hours, minutes, and seconds accurately.

Nouns and Pronouns

Personal Pronouns

Personal pronouns are essential in Javanese as they allow us to refer to different people or things in a conversation. Here are the Javanese personal pronouns:

Javanese	Pronunciation	English Translation
"kula"	"ku-la"	I
"kowe"	"ko-we"	you
"sira"	"si-ra"	he/she
"kita"	"ki-ta"	we
"kowe-kowe"	"ko-we-ko-we"	you (plural)
"sira-sira"	"si-ra-si-ra"	they

Remember to use the appropriate personal pronoun based on the context of your conversation.

Possessive Pronouns

Possessive pronouns are used to indicate ownership or possession of something. Here are the Javanese possessive pronouns:

Javanese	Pronunciation	English Translation
"ku"	"ku"	my/mine
"mu"	"mu"	your/yours
"sira"	"si-ra"	his/hers
"kita"	"ki-ta"	our/ours
"kowe-kowe"	"ko-we-ko-we"	your/yours (plural)
"sira-sira"	"si-ra-si-ra"	their/theirs

Use these possessive pronouns to indicate ownership or possession in Javanese sentences.

Family and Relationships

Family Members

Family holds great importance in Javanese culture, and specific words are used to address different family members. Here are some Javanese words for various family members:

Javanese	Pronunciation	English Translation
"bapa"	"ba-pa"	father
"ibu"	"i-bu"	mother
"anak"	"a-nak"	child
"kakang"	"ka-kang"	older brother
"adik"	"a-dik"	younger brother/sister
"kakang perempuan"	"ka-kang pe-rem-pu-an"	older sister
"adik perempuan"	"a-dik pe-rem-pu-an"	younger sister
"mbah"	"m-bah"	grandparent

Feel free to explore more family terms in Javanese and practice using them in sentences to describe your own family members.

Relationship Terms

Javanese language has specific words to describe various relationships. Here are some Javanese words for different relationship terms:

Javanese	Pronunciation	English Translation
"sahabat"	"sa-ha-bat"	friend
"pacar"	"pa-car"	boyfriend/girlfriend
"pasangan"	"pa-san-gan"	partner
"kenalan"	"ke-na-lan"	acquaintance
"lawan jenis"	"la-wan je-nis"	opposite sex
"sesama jenis"	"se-sa-ma je-nis"	same sex

Use these relationship terms to describe different connections and build a more nuanced understanding of Javanese culture.

Verbs and Tenses

Present Tense

In Javanese, verbs in the present tense are quite straightforward to form. Simply use the base form of the verb without any conjugation. For example:

"Mangan rujak."

Translation: "I eat rujak."

To make a sentence negative in the present tense, add the negation particle "ora" (not) before the verb. For example:

"Kula ora mangan rujak."

Translation: "I am not eating rujak."

Practice forming sentences in the present tense using different verbs and objects to enhance your understanding.

Past Tense

To express actions that have already happened in the past, Javanese uses the past tense. The past tense is formed by adding the suffix "-i" or "-e" to the verb base form. For example:

"Mangan" (eat) becomes "Mangani" or "Mange" in the past tense.

Here's an example:

"Kula mangan rujak." (I eat rujak.)

"Kula mangani rujak." or "Kula mange rujak." (I ate rujak.)

Remember to use the appropriate verb form based on the context of your sentence.

Food and Drinks

Common Foods

Asking about and talking about food is a common topic in daily conversations. Here are some Javanese words for various common foods:

Javanese	Pronunciation	English Translation
"nasi"	"na-si"	rice
"ayam"	"a-yam"	chicken
"ikan"	"i-kan"	fish
"tempe"	"tem-pe"	tempeh
"tahu"	"ta-hu"	tofu
"sayur"	"sa-yur"	vegetables
"buah"	"bu-ah"	fruits

Use these words to expand your vocabulary and talk about the different foods you enjoy.

Drinks and Beverages

In Javanese culture, drinks are an essential part of social gatherings and daily routines. Here are some Javanese words for different drinks and beverages:

Javanese	Pronunciation	English Translation
"air"	"air"	water
"kopi"	"ko-pi"	coffee
"teh"	"teh"	tea
"jus"	"jus"	juice
"es"	"es"	iced
"soda"	"so-da"	soda

Expand your knowledge of Javanese culture by learning the names of various drinks and beverages.

Adjectives and Adverbs

Descriptive Adjectives

Adjectives are crucial for describing the qualities of nouns in Javanese. They help add depth and detail to your conversations. Here are some examples of descriptive adjectives in Javanese:

Javanese	Pronunciation	English Translation
"gedhe"	"ge-dhe"	big
"cilik"	"ci-lik"	small
"ireng"	"i-reng"	black
"putih"	"pu-tih"	white
"cilik"	"ci-lik"	young
"tuwa"	"tu-wa"	old
"bebas"	"be-bas"	free

Practice using these adjectives to describe various nouns and enhance your ability to express yourself in Javanese.

Adverbs of Manner

Adverbs are used to describe how actions are performed in Javanese. They provide additional information about the manner or style of an action. Here are some examples of adverbs of manner in Javanese:

Javanese	Pronunciation	English Translation
"cathet"	"ca-thet"	carefully
"cepet"	"ce-pet"	quickly
"pelan"	"pe-lan"	slowly
"gampang"	"gam-pang"	easily
"kroso"	"kro-so"	courageously
"lara"	"la-ra"	sadly
"seneng"	"se-neng"	happily

Experiment with using these adverbs in sentences to describe different actions and express yourself more precisely in Javanese.

Travel and Transportation

Modes of Transportation

When discussing travel and transportation in Javanese, it is essential to know the names of various modes of transportation. Here are some Javanese words for different modes of transportation:

Javanese	Pronunciation	English Translation
"kreta"	"kre-ta"	car
"sepeda"	"se-pe-da"	bicycle
"kereta"	"ke-re-ta"	train
"pesawat"	"pe-sa-wat"	airplane
"kapal"	"ka-pal"	ship
"ojek"	"o-jek"	motorbike taxi

Use these words to discuss different modes of transportation and navigate your way around in Javanese-speaking regions.

Travel Vocabulary

When traveling, certain vocabulary becomes essential for asking for directions, booking accommodations, and navigating public transportation. Here are some essential Javanese travel vocabulary words:

Javanese	Pronunciation	English Translation
"nganti"	"ngan-ti"	until
"alun-alun"	"a-lun-a-lun"	town square
"panggonan"	"pang-go-nan"	accommodation
"bandara"	"ban-da-ra"	airport
"halte"	"hal-te"	bus stop
"peta"	"pe-ta"	map

Mastering these travel-related words will greatly assist you in your adventures in Javanese-speaking regions.

Prepositions and Conjunctions

Basic Prepositions

Prepositions are crucial for expressing relationships between words in Javanese. They indicate location, time, direction, and more. Here are some basic prepositions in Javanese:

Javanese	Pronunciation	English Translation
"ning"	"ning"	in, at
"kanggo"	"kang-go"	for
"karo"	"ka-ro"	with
"saka"	"sa-ka"	from
"nanging"	"nan-ging"	but
"utawa"	"u-ta-wa"	or

Practice using these prepositions in sentences to express different relationships between words.

Common Conjunctions

Conjunctions are used to connect words, phrases, or clauses in a sentence. They help convey relationships and add coherence to your speech. Here are some common conjunctions in Javanese:

Javanese	Pronunciation	English Translation
"lan"	"lan"	and
"nanging"	"nan-ging"	but
"utawa"	"u-ta-wa"	or
"supados"	"su-pa-dos"	so
"amarga"	"a-mar-ga"	because
"sakwise"	"sak-wi-se"	therefore

Experiment with using these conjunctions to connect ideas and thoughts in Javanese.

Javanese Customs and Etiquette

Politeness Levels

Politeness is highly valued in Javanese culture, and the use of appropriate politeness levels is crucial in various social situations. The Javanese language has different levels of politeness that are used based on factors such as age, social status, and familiarity. Here are the three main levels of politeness in Javanese:

1. "Ngoko" (Informal): This form is used among peers, close friends, or family members of the same age or younger. It is characterized by casual language and a relaxed tone.

2. "Madya" (Neutral): This form is used in formal or semi-formal settings with people of the same age or higher status. It shows a moderate level of respect and is more polite than "ngoko."

3. "Krama" (Formal): This form is used when addressing elders, authority figures, or people of higher social status. It reflects a high level of respect and politeness.

Understanding and using the appropriate politeness level is essential for effective communication in Javanese culture.

Social Etiquette

Javanese social etiquette emphasizes respect, humility, and harmonious interactions with others. Here are some important aspects of social etiquette in Javanese culture:

1. Greetings: Proper greetings are crucial in Javanese culture. When meeting someone for the first time or encountering someone older or of higher social status, it is customary to greet them with respect and humility. The common greeting is "Sugeng rawuh" (Welcome).

2. Gift-Giving: Gift-giving is a significant aspect of Javanese culture, especially during special occasions or when visiting someone's home. It is customary to bring a small gift or token of appreciation. Gifts are usually wrapped neatly and presented with both hands as a sign of respect.

3. Respecting Elders: Respecting elders is deeply ingrained in Javanese culture. It is important to show deference and use appropriate language when addressing elders. The use of "ngoko" is generally avoided when speaking to elders, and the "krama" level of politeness is preferred.

4. Dining Etiquette: When dining with others, it is customary to wait for the host or the eldest person to start eating before beginning your meal. It is polite to eat with your right hand, as the left hand is considered unclean. Additionally, it is respectful to finish all the food on your plate as a sign of appreciation for the meal.

Understanding and following these social etiquette guidelines will help you navigate social interactions smoothly and show respect for Javanese customs and traditions.

Exercises

1. Practice introducing yourself in Javanese to a classmate or a language exchange partner. Use the template provided earlier and adapt it with your own details.

2. Form sentences in Javanese using the present tense and different verbs and objects. For example, "Kula mangan nasi." (I eat rice.)

3. Create a dialogue with a partner where you discuss your favorite foods and drinks using Javanese vocabulary.

4. Role-play a scenario where you are asking for directions and using prepositions to navigate your way around a Javanese-speaking city.

Solutions

1. Introduce yourself in Javanese: "Nggep, kula ageng Maria. Kula saking Amerika. Kula wonten ing Yogyakarta. Seneng tresna kula nyanyi." (Yes, I am Maria. I come from America. I am currently in Yogyakarta. I love singing.)

2. Present tense sentences: - "Kula mangan nasi." (I eat rice.) - "Kula dolan ing pasar." (I play in the market.) - "Kula maca buku." (I read a book.)

3. Dialogue about favorite foods and drinks: Person A: "Kula seneng mangan ayam. Kowe seneng mangan apa?" (I like eating chicken. What do you like to eat?) Person B: "Kula seneng mangan ikan. Kula suka minum kopi." (I like eating fish. I enjoy drinking coffee.)

4. Asking for directions: Person A: "Mbotenika, alun-alun meniko pundi?" (Excuse me, is this the way to the town square?) Person B: "Iya, mesti nganti sawise papan ijo." (Yes, you have to go straight after the green sign.)

Conclusion

Congratulations on completing the lesson on Javanese customs and etiquette! You have gained valuable insights into the social norms, greetings, gift-giving, and respecting elders in Javanese culture. Remember to apply this knowledge in your interactions with Javanese speakers, as it will help you build strong connections and foster a deeper understanding of their rich cultural heritage. Keep practicing and exploring the fascinating world of the Javanese language and culture. Selamat nggih! (Good luck!)

Table of Contents - Javanese Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Sentence Structure

• Subject-Verb-Object
• Questions and Negations

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-10
• Telling Time

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Personal Pronouns
• Possessive Pronouns

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationship Terms

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense

  ---

Food and Drinks

• Common Foods
• Drinks and Beverages

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Descriptive Adjectives
• Adverbs of Manner

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Travel Vocabulary

  ---

Prepositions and Conjunctions

• Basic Prepositions
• Common Conjunctions

  ---

Javanese Customs and Etiquette

• Politeness Levels
• Social Etiquette

Other Lessons

• Politeness Levels

◀️ Politeness Levels — Previous Lesson