Sundanese Language

Sundanese language (basa Sunda) is one of ethnic languages of Indonesia, which is spoken by Sundanese people (urang Sunda). It is the mother tongue of the majority of inhabitants of the Western part of Java.

This language is not only spoken in everyday conversation, but is also used in songs and poems. There are many Sundanese books, both fiction and nonfiction, including collection of poems. There are also Sundanese magazines (e.g. Bandung-based Cupumanik and Manglé) and newspapers (e.g. Bandung-based Galura and Giwangkara), some of which have their own websites.

Sundanese people had spoken in their own language since time immemorial. Sanghyang Siksa kanda ng Karesian, the oldest manuscript that was written in Old Sundanese, was dated from 16^th century. Some Old Sundanese manuscripts were even written in Old Sundanese script. It is believed that Sundanese oral tradition is much older than its literary tradition.

Modern version of the language is a little bit different from the old one. Words develop and change. Modern Sundanese writing is composed in Latin script.

Foreigners may be confused by the problem of speech levels (undak-usuk basa). You need not to worry, however. Just think about different situations where you are supposed to decide whether you should speak in “formal” or “polite” (lemes) manner or in “informal” or “familiar” (loma) manner.  You can remember different words for different situations. Why not?