Humanities | How To Act Like Javanese
This video is for the final exam of the first semester of Humanities in IUP class 2014 of English Department, Faculty of Cultural Sciences of Universitas Gadjah Mada. Uploaded on November 29, 2014
Java is an island which has the most population in Indonesia. It consists of East Java, Central Java, Jakarta, Banten, West Java, and Special Region of Yogyakarta. Java people are called Javanese. Javanese are well-known with their politeness and friendly manner. There are several unique habits in their daily life. However, those are done by Javanese in general.
Firstly, they way Javanese asks for direction on the street. It is a common thing. However, if you are rude, people will not help you. You have to see the conditions around, whether the person(s) you want to ask is or are possible or not. In Java, there are special rules for asking for direction, especially when you are riding a vehicle such as motorcycle. The first thing you have to do is take off your helmet. After that, turn off your motorcycle and approach the person(s) you want to ask. The last thing you have to do is saying “excuse me” on your first sentence then ask for the way politely. Those rules are usually done generally in Java. Not all of Javanese do that, but that is the correct way of asking a question on the street.
Secondly, Javanese are very common for their hesitation habit. Hesitation itself is a condition where people feel reluctant, shy and also respect. For example, if your best friend borrowed your money in a – we can say – big amount and we need it to pay something, it is kind of hard to ask your money back because the borrower is your best friend. Nowadays, native people of Java can be seen in East Java, Central Java and Special Region of Yogyakarta. But there is exception for Madura because Madura people are not in Java tribe anymore, even though Madura is still located in East Java. This Java tribe is known very well for their politeness and their gentle way of speaking. Thus, hesitation habit is a part of this politeness. In many cases, Javanese people tend to say that they are not hungry where the truth is they are hungry and they hesitate to tell the truth moreover to the person who they just known for a while. Beside as a form of politeness, this habit is also a form of small talk which occurred before someone start a conversation while visiting people.
The last but not least, Javanese often bend their bodies while walking in front of elder people and sometimes unknown people who they guessed older than them. This habit is already existed from earlier. This habit is supposed to teach about etiquettes and manners for children to respect the elderlies. The specific position is bending their body about 45 degrees, straighten their right hand downside in front of their body, and say “excuse me” or “nuwun sewu” in Javanese language while walking through them. Also, while walking through them, Javanese often walk in standard rhythm, not so fast and not so slow, in order to show respect to the elderlies.
In conclusion, Javanese people are known for their politeness. Some expressions of Javanese’s politeness are the hesitation, and the action they made when they meet another people; such as bending their bodies while walking in front of elder people. Those are the forms of Javanese people’s culture and we can appreciate them by learning the culture, especially if we are going to pay a visit—or even stay—in Java. By learning the culture, we can gain the knowledge about their culture, and also strengthen our bond with them.
Directed by GLA
Produced by GLA
Notes:
GLA stands for the name of the personnel of the group which are Glenda (Glenda Sarah Leksana), Lina (Maulina Fathudin), and Alyssa (Alyssa Chrisanti Liantara).