To understand the current challenges, one must first appreciate the complexity of traditional Sundanese culture.
Sundanese has a rich history dating back to the 7th century. The earliest written records of the Sundanese language date back to the Tarumanegara kingdom (358-683 AD). During the Hindu-Buddhist period, Sundanese was heavily influenced by Sanskrit and Old Javanese. With the arrival of Islam in the 15th century, Sundanese began to adopt Arabic and Persian loanwords. In the 19th century, Sundanese was written using the Latin alphabet, and in 1975, the Sundanese script was officially adopted as one of the scripts used in Indonesia.
Central to this identity is the Sundanese language ( Basa Sunda ). It belongs to the Malayo-Polynesian branch of the Austronesian language family and serves as the emotional and cultural repository of the people. However, the 21st century presents a unique paradox for the Sundanese. While there is a resurgence of interest in "local wisdom" ( kearifan lokal ) as a counter-narrative to globalization, the actual daily usage of the Sundanese language is facing a precipitous decline, particularly among the urban youth. This paper investigates the sociolinguistic shifts occurring in West Java and discusses the implications for Sundanese cultural continuity. sundanese
The Sundanese identity stands at a crossroads. The traditional model of Sundanese-ness, defined by strict adherence to speech levels and rural agrarian values, is undoubtedly fading in urban centers. However, to declare the death of Sundanese culture would be premature.
The Sundanese language ( Basa Sunda ) is a central pillar of their identity, spoken by over 32 million people. To understand the current challenges, one must first
A hybrid identity is forming. Young Sundanese today may not master the complex undak-undak , but they express their ethnicity through food, music, fashion, and digital content. The challenge for policymakers and cultural custodians is to balance the preservation of high-culture linguistic forms with the support of these evolving, organic forms of expression. The future of Sundanese culture lies not in isolating it from modernity, but in ensuring it remains a living, breathing part of the digital conversation.
Despite this rich heritage, the vitality of the Sundanese language is currently under threat. This phenomenon can be attributed to three primary factors: Central to this identity is the Sundanese language
Sundanese vocabulary is composed of native words, as well as loanwords from Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian, and Dutch.
Since the formulation of the "Youth Pledge" ( Sumpah Pemuda ) in 1928 and subsequent independence, Bahasa Indonesia has been rigorously promoted as the unifying national language. In West Java, this policy has been highly successful. Today, the educational system operates entirely in Bahasa Indonesia. Consequently, urban children in cities like Bandung and Bogor are increasingly raised as monolingual speakers of Bahasa Indonesia, viewing Sundanese as a "language of the village" or a language for older generations.