Surabaya Blends Local Slang with Javanese Krama Inggil in New Language Revitalization Program

JatimVoice.com – Surabaya’s distinctive slang, featuring terms like “rek” and “koen,” is deeply ingrained in the city’s daily life, reflecting its candid, spontaneous, and unique cultural identity. Now, the Surabaya City Government is taking an innovative approach by blending this local dialect with the formal and refined Javanese Krama Inggil through a revitalization program aimed at preserving the Javanese language in schools.

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The Surabaya Education Office (Dispendik) is spearheading efforts to reintroduce Javanese, particularly Krama Inggil, while maintaining the city’s familiar and grounded local flavor. “Javanese has been designated a mandatory subject, and Krama Inggil will be an integral part of our teaching modules,” said Yusuf Masruh, Head of Dispendik, on Thursday, June 3, 2025.

Under Surabaya Mayor Regulation No. 17 of 2025, Javanese is now a compulsory local subject from kindergarten to junior high school. A flagship initiative, dubbed “Kamis Mlipis,” mandates the use of Javanese every Thursday in schools. The approach is flexible, allowing the use of Surabaya’s iconic slang like “rek” and “koen” during activities such as storytelling and dialogues.

“The teaching will be tailored to Surabaya’s unique Javanese style. For instance, students can use local stories with Surabaya’s distinctive slang during storytelling, showcasing flexibility in implementation,” Yusuf explained.

To support this initiative, Dispendik is collaborating with the East Java Language Agency, the Javanese Teachers’ Association (MGMP), and academics from UNESA and nearby areas like Gresik and Sidoarjo to develop specialized teaching modules that integrate Krama Inggil with local contexts. A dedicated team of 24 teachers—12 from elementary and 12 from junior high schools—has been formed to promote the program and develop these modules, with workshops scheduled for June 24–26, 2025, at the East Java Language Agency.

To engage students, Dispendik is also encouraging Javanese-language competitions, including short story writing, storytelling, traditional Javanese singing (menembang), and Javanese script writing. The East Java Language Agency will oversee the program’s success through journals and mentoring, with a dedicated group to coordinate and compile teaching materials.

Yusuf emphasized that there will be no pilot phase; instead, targeted teacher training will ensure effective implementation. This flexible approach demonstrates that the politeness of Krama Inggil can harmoniously coexist with Surabaya’s vibrant local dialect, preserving cultural heritage while embracing the city’s unique identity.

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