Page Type: languageJavanese | Ethnologue

JAV ISO 639-3

Javanese

Jawa Autonym

A language of Indonesia

ISO 639
jav
Alternate Names
Djawa
Autonym
Jawa
Population
68,200,000 in Indonesia (2015 UNSD). Ethnic population: 95,200,000 (2011 census). Total users in all countries: 68,278,400.
Location:
Banten, Central Java, and East Java provinces; Special Region of Yogyakarta; Sumatra island: Lampung province; resettlements in Kalimantan, Maluku, Papua, and Sulawesi.
Language Status
4 (Educational). De facto language of provincial identity in central and eastern Java.
Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Javanese
Dialects
Cirebon (Cheribon, Tjirebon), Tegal, Indramayu, Surakarta (Sawlaw, Solo), Tembung, Pasisir, Surabaya, Malang-Pasuruan, Banten, Manuk, Banyumas. High Javanese (Jawa Halus) is the language of religion, but users diminishing and mostly limited to Central Javanese speakers. Javanese varieties in Suriname and in New Caledonia now only partially intelligible with difficulty. Javanese in New Caledonia reportedly cannot use High Javanese (Koentjaraningrat 1971). Several dialects in Sabah.
Typology
SVO; prepositions; noun head initial; 3 articles; 21 consonants and 8 vowels; word accent not distinctive; inclusive/exclusive pronouns.
Language Use
Also use Musi [mui], especially in South Sumatra. Used as L2 by Javindo [jvd], Madura [mad], Tengger [tes].
Language Development
Fully developed. Bible: 1854–1994.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Javanese
Writing
Javanese script [Java], no longer in use. Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Muslim.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Javanese
User Population
Ethnic population: 300,000 (Wurm and Hattori 1981).
Location
Kedah: Kota Setar and Kuala Munda districts; Perak: Kinta district; Sabah: scattered coastal areas; Selangor: Kuala Lumpur area.
Language Status
8a (Moribund)
Other Comments
Non-indigenous. Muslim.
View other languages of Malaysia
Language Name
Javanese
User Population
42,900 in Netherlands (2019).
Language Status
Unestablished
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of Netherlands
Language Name
Javanese
User Population
35,500 in Singapore (2004 J. Leclerc). Ethnic population: 88,600 (2010 census).
Location
Scattered.
Language Status
7 (Shifting)
Other Comments
Non-indigenous. Muslim.
View other languages of Singapore

Map

Location: Banten, Central Java, and East Java provinces; Special Region of Yogyakarta; Sumatra island: Lampung province; resettlements in Kalimantan, Maluku, Papua, and Sulawesi.