Javanese Language in Rituals and Traditions in Transmigration Areas of Lalembuu Sub- Regency

Abstract

Although previous studies have extensively examined Javanese language shift, bilingualism, and identity negotiation, limited attention has been given to the maintenance of Javanese within ritual domains among transmigrant communities outside Java. This study investigates the use and preservation of Javanese in traditional rituals and ceremonies practiced by Javanese transmigrant communities in Lalembuu Sub-Regency, South Konawe Regency, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. Drawing on language maintenance, ethnolinguistics, and language ideology perspectives, the study explores how Javanese functions as a cultural resource for sustaining collective identity, social relationships, and symbolic meanings. A descriptive qualitative approach with ethnolinguistic methods was employed. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participant observation, and document analysis involving 45 informants from Javanese transmigrant villages in Kecamatan Lalembuu. The findings indicate that Javanese remains an important cultural medium in four major ritual domains: agricultural ceremonies, including slametan panen and wiwitan; life-cycle rituals, including birth, circumcision, and marriage ceremonies; communal safety prayers, such as kenduren and manakiban; and ancestral commemoration practices, particularly sedekah bumi. Despite prolonged interaction with Bali, Sunda, and Bugis communities, Javanese transmigrants continue to preserve specialized sacred registers, particularly Krama and Krama Inggil, while using mixed Javanese–Indonesian varieties in everyday communication. The selective use of ritual Javanese reflects a strong language ideology associating sacred speech with respect, spiritual authority, and ancestral legitimacy. Ritual language therefore strengthens ethnic identity, intergenerational transmission, and communal solidarity, demonstrating its role as an important form of cultural resilience in transmigrant communities.