Researching in Java Island using the local language proved to be a unique and insightful way to gather data.
Back then, I thought learning Javanese (Bahasa Jawa) was quite troublesome because I didn’t find it useful in a professional setting. I believed it was only necessary for speaking with others who shared the same language, primarily limited to the island of Java, especially East and Central Java. Growing up in Sidoarjo and Surabaya, I realized the language spoken there differed from other Javanese dialects. We spoke more directly, making some Javanese phrases unsuitable for communication with people from other regions. This is why, in the past, I didn’t see it as a valuable skill. My family also emphasized English and other languages over my own Javanese dialect.
However, in 2024, I’m grateful that I can still speak and learn Javanese. I even understand the more polite form used by elders during my research session. Yes, a research session! You heard correctly. I used Javanese with the participants in this ethnographic study involving in-depth interviews.
So, why Javanese over Indonesian?
There are many reasons, but one key factor is that the participants, being older adults themselves, felt more comfortable speaking in their native tongue. Additionally, I was conducting research in a regency in East Java where the Javanese dialect is still largely preserved, unlike the areas I lived in before, Surabaya and Sidoarjo.
However, even though the dialect is a bit different, living in Nganjuk for work has been helping me a lot to overcome the dialect challenge. I force myself to converse in Javanese as much as I can, especially the polite form when speaking to strangers, for example, when buying food in Nganjuk. It’s really making me feel more comfortable speaking polite Javanese compared to before. Researching using Bahasa Jawa isn’t any different from using Bahasa Indonesia.
You still use the same methods, such as Focus Group Discussions, Shadowing, and User Interviews, or anything related to qualitative research. The big difference is only in the words used and the communication style. In Nganjuk, I found that people tend to be more indirect compared to the city I used to live in. So, the difference lies only in the way stories are conveyed and the behavior of the informant during the research.
By using Javanese, you can uncover and at least help the informant to be able express their feelings a lot better because there’s some kind of words that are easier to said using Bahasa Jawa. Such as
Bahasa Jawa :
“Dadi gak keroso mas, umpomo pingin nandur neh, iki gak keroso abot. Cuman tenogo, nek tenogone isok di garap dewe kan sodok luwe ringan biayane mas. Tapi nek beli, kudu mesti sing wakeh mas.”
Bahasa Indonesia :
“Jadi gak kerasa mas, seumpama kalau mau menanam lagi itu tidak terasa berat. Hanya saja tenaganya itu bisa dikerjakan sendiri. Tapi kan itu lebih ringan daripada beli bibit sendiri.”
It has the same meaning, but the specific words such as “Nek” and “Iki” are simple words that Javanese people use in every sentence. By understanding these kinds of words, it makes it easier for the informant to explain the question that we, as researchers, have asked.
This experience highlighted the power of seemingly “useless” dialects. Javanese, once underestimated, became a bridge to understanding and connection. It’s a reminder that languages are more than just words; they are gateways into cultures and communities. So next time you hear a dialect you’re unfamiliar with, remember, it might just hold the key to a deeper understanding.
