Language/Javanese/Grammar/Personal-Pronouns
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Introduction
In this lesson, you will learn about personal pronouns in Javanese. Pronouns are words that take the place of nouns and are used to refer to different people or things. Personal pronouns, in particular, refer to individuals or groups of people in a sentence, and are essential in everyday conversations.
Mastering personal pronouns is crucial for building fluency, as they are heavily used in both written and spoken Javanese. The use of personal pronouns reflects cultural identity and social status, making it an important aspect of communication in Javanese culture.
In this lesson, we will cover the different personal pronouns in Javanese, including their usage in sentences depending on the context. We will also provide cultural insights and interesting facts related to the use of personal pronouns in Javanese language and culture.
Take a moment to explore these relevant pages as you conclude this lesson: How to Use Be & Descriptive Adjectives.
Javanese Personal Pronouns
Javanese personal pronouns are divided into three categories: singular, dual, and plural. The singular category addresses a single individual, the dual category addresses two individuals, and the plural category addresses three or more individuals.
Singular Personal Pronouns
The singular personal pronouns in Javanese are as follows:
| Javanese | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| aku | /a.ku/ | I, me |
| kowe | /ko.wə/ | you (informal) |
| panjenengan | /paɲ.d͡ʒɛ.naŋ.ɡan/ | you (formal) |
| ana | /a.na/ | he/she/it |
- "Aku" is the informal first-person singular pronoun commonly used in casual conversations. It is equivalent to the English "I" or "me."
- "Kowe" is the informal second-person singular pronoun used when addressing a close friend or acquaintance. It is equivalent to the English "you."
- "Panjenengan" is the formal second-person singular pronoun used to show respect towards someone who is older or in a higher social position. It is equivalent to the English "you."
- "Ana" is the third-person singular pronoun that refers to a person, object, or animal. It is equivalent to the English "he," "she," or "it."
Dual Personal Pronouns
The dual personal pronouns in Javanese are as follows:
| Javanese | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| kithu | /ki.tʰu/ | we (you and I) |
| kadhewe | /kɔ.d̪ʱɛ.wɛ/ | you (two) |
| sampeyan | /sampɛ.jɔn/ | you (formal and one more person) |
| tangane | /tɔ.ŋan.ɛ/ | he/she/it (two of them) |
- "Kithu" refers to "we" when addressing someone you are familiar with. It is equivalent to the English "you and I."
- "Kadhewe" denotes "you two" when addressing two individuals. It is equivalent to the English "you two."
- "Sampeyan" is an honorific way of addressing two people. It is equivalent to the plural form of "panjenengan."
- "Tangane" refers to the third-person dual pronoun that refers to two people, objects, or animals. It is equivalent to the English "they."
Plural Personal Pronouns
The plural personal pronouns in Javanese are as follows:
| Javanese | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| kita | /ki.tə/ | we (inclusive) |
| awakku | /a.wak.ku/ | we (exclusive) |
| kowé kabeh | /ko.wə ka.bəh/ | you all |
| sampeyan | /sampɛ.jɔn/ | you all (formal) |
| marang wonge | /ma.raŋ wɔ.ŋɛ/ | they |
- "Kita" refers to "we" as a group that includes the listener, and is commonly used in collective conversations. It is equivalent to the English "we."
- "Awakku" denotes "we" as a group that does not include the listener. It is equivalent to the English "we."
- "Kowé kabeh" addresses a group of people informally. It is equivalent to the English "you all."
- "Sampeyan" is an honorific way of addressing a group of people. It is the formal plural form of "panjenengan."
- "Marang wonge" refers to "they" and includes multiple people, objects or animals. It is equivalent to the English "they."
Usage of Personal Pronouns
Personal pronouns are used in Javanese to refer to individuals or groups in sentences. The usage of personal pronouns depends on the context and the level of formality of the conversation.
In Javanese, personal pronouns can be used as the subject, object, or possessive form of a sentence. For example, "Aku kowe" translates to "I (am) you" in English, whereas "Kowe aku" translates to "You (are) me." The context and sentence structure can convey different meanings in Javanese.
Furthermore, the use of personal pronouns reflects social hierarchy and can indicate the level of respect towards the speaker or the listener. It is important to be aware of the social dynamics and cultural nuances when using personal pronouns in Javanese.
For example, the use of "panjenengan" implies a higher level of social status and respect than "kowe." In formal situations, it is common to use "panjenengan" to address someone who is in a higher social rank or to show respect towards an elderly person. Meanwhile, "kita" and "awakku" denote different levels of inclusiveness when referring to a group of people.
Interesting facts
- Javanese language has a unique form of personal pronouns that includes dual forms. This is because the Javanese culture gives importance to the concept of "dua sejoli," which means "two souls in one love." The dual personal pronouns are used to emphasize the intimate relationship between two people, such as a couple. - The use of personal pronouns reflects social status and hierarchy in Javanese culture. It is common for people to use personal pronouns that indicate their position in society, such as "aku" for lower class individuals and "panjenengan" for higher class individuals. - Personal pronouns are also used to indicate the level of familiarity and closeness between the speaker and the listener. For example, using "kowe" between friends indicates a close relationship, whereas using "panjenengan" implies a formal and respectful relationship.
Other Lessons
- Questions
- Descriptive Adjectives
- Possessive Pronouns
- Past Tense
- Gender
- Basic Prepositions
- Conditional Mood
- Plurals
- How to Use Be
Sources
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