A dialectology study of archaic javanese vocabulary along the southern coast of east java

Peta Bahasa-bahasa di Indonesia (A Map of Indonesian Languages), issued by Lembaga Bahasa Nasional (National Language Agency) in 1972, presents the load distribution of languages on the south coast of East Java, which comprises several types of dialects and even languages. This chapter aims to investigate the contact among dialects and languages on the south coastal area of East Java. Furthermore, the chapter focuses on a search for the form of the retention of the vocabulary of the archaic forms in the semantic field of everyday activities. The chapter discusses patterns of vocabulary in the semantic field of activities along the south coast of East Java. Revealing examples of archaic vocabulary retained in modern use, this research is urgently needed as literature pertaining to this region are mostly outdated and insufficient. Considering there was a moment when Mataram language practices transitioned from the period of old Javanese language use to modern Javanese, it is possible individuals have continued to use archaic vocabulary. The method used in this research is a quantitative calculation of dialectometry, and the data will be analyzed qualitatively. This research is also supported by historical aspects which powerfully developed the south coast of East Java to give a comprehensive frame of the contact situation around the area. The power of the Mataram Sultanate and Blambangan Empire could be a strong factor influencing language varieties and language situations on the south coast of East Java. Community activities on the southern coast of East Java play a critical role in the retention of archaic vocabulary. For this study, the observation points are in Pacitan, Trenggalek, Tulungagung, Blitar, Malang, Jember, and Lumajang.