Language/Javanese/Grammar/Nouns

Javanese Grammar - Nouns

Hi Javanese learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will be discussing Javanese nouns. Nouns are words that are used to name people, places, things, or ideas. They are important in any language because they give meaning to the language itself. In Javanese, there are several rules to follow in order to use nouns correctly. Don't worry, though, because we will go through them step by step. By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid foundation in Javanese noun use.

Basic Rules

In Javanese, every noun is modified by "ak, iku, or ki." These words are used as classifiers and are chosen based on certain characteristics of the noun. The characteristics include size, shape, behavior, position, etc. Here are some examples:

Javanese	Pronunciation	English
wewenang aku	[we'we.naŋ ʔa'ku]	power (to do)
uga iku	['ʔu.ga 'ʔi.ku]	also
mbok ki	[mbɔk ki]	Please

In the first example, "aku" is used as a classifier to show the ability to do something. In the second example, "iku" is used to show the relationship of the thing in question to the subject of the sentence. "Ki" is used in the third example to indicate a polite request.

Another rule to follow is that nouns are not declined for gender or number. Unlike English, there is no distinction between singular or plural nouns. This means that the same noun can be used to refer to both one and many objects. Here is an example:

Javanese	Pronunciation	English
baju	['ba.ju]	shirt

In the above example, "baju" can be used to refer to either one or many shirts. The context in which the word is used will make the meaning clear.

Types of Nouns

In Javanese, there are two types of nouns: common nouns and proper nouns.

Common Nouns

Common nouns refer to general concepts or classes of things. They are not capitalized in Javanese, unless they are the first word in a sentence or are part of a title. Here are some examples:

Javanese	Pronunciation	English
wayang	[wa'jaŋ]	puppet
wejangon	[wɛ'dʒɔŋ.ɔn]	truck
pitu	['pi.tu]	seven

All the nouns in the above table refer to general concepts or classes of things, like puppets, trucks, and the number seven. As you can see, they are not capitalized.

Proper Nouns

Proper nouns refer to specific people, places, or things, and are always capitalized in Javanese. Here are some examples:

Javanese	Pronunciation	English
Yogyakarta	[jo'ɡja.karta]	Yogyakarta (a city in Indonesia)
Banyuwangi	[baɲu'waŋ.ɡi]	Banyuwangi (a regency in East Java, Indonesia)
Sutiyoso	[su'ti.jɔ.sɔ]	Sutiyoso (a common Javanese name)

In the above examples, "Yogyakarta," "Banyuwangi," and "Sutiyoso" are specific people, places, or things and are always capitalized.

Dialogue

Person 1: Gusti, kowe soko ngendi? (Lord, where do you come from?) Person 2: Aku saka Yogyakarta. (I come from Yogyakarta.)

In the above dialogue, Person 1 uses the polite form of address "Gusti," followed by the question "kowe soko ngendi?" which means "where do you come from?" Person 2 answers with the sentence "Aku saka Yogyakarta," which means "I come from Yogyakarta."

Cultural and Interesting Facts

Did you know that Javanese has two levels of speech? These levels are known as "krama" and "ngoko." Krama is used for more formal situations, such as addressing elders or people of higher status, while ngoko is used for casual or informal speech.

Another interesting fact is that Java Island, where the Javanese language originated, is the most populous island in Indonesia, with over 140 million people.

Practice

To practice using Javanese nouns, try describing things in your environment using the appropriate classifiers. For example, you could say "wong kang prabu" (a person with a royal title) to refer to a person in formal attire, or "bojomu" (your friend) to refer to a friend.

Sources

• Javanese Language
• Java Island

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