Javanese Language Lesson at School as a Form of Strengthening Cultural Identity in Yogyakarta

Abstract

Culture and communication are concepts that are closely related to human life because culture can be connected with all variables when humans establish interpersonal relationships with different individuals. Cultural identity is a communicative process of an individual to build and negotiate cultural background in a certain contexts, situations, topics and relationships as part of his identity in a cultural group. This research will look at strengthening cultural identity through Javanese language lessons in Yogyakarta. Qualitative methods were used in this study using in-depth interview techniques with the head of the subject teacher deliberation who was also one of the Javanese language teachers at Yogyakarta 5 State Junior High School. Based on the results of observations and interviews, Javanese language subjects as local content lessons must be able to become a forum for preserving and strengthening local wisdom in accordance with the Regulation of the Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta Number 64 of 2013 which states that Javanese is a regional language used by the Javanese community as a means of communication. Functionally, Javanese language subjects are also mandatory for all schools in Yogyakarta. The Javanese language also functions as an ethical, aesthetic, moral, spiritual and character education value, and the last is for students to be able to communicate with good and correct ethics and grammar, use the Javanese language as a means of communication and regional identity, improve intellectual abilities, and refine manners.