The Social Role of the Java “Deli Community in Shaping the Language and Cultural Identity of Java Descendants Born in Sumatra

Authors

  • Sutikno Sutikno

    Department of Indonesia Language and Literature Education, Universitas Muslim Nusantara Al-Washliyah, Medan 20147, Indonesia
  • Muhammad Rohmadi

    Department of Indonesia Language and Literature Education, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta 57126, Indonesia
  • Nurbaiti Usman Siam

    Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Sosial dan Ilmu Politik (STISIPOL) Raja Haji Tanjungpinang, Sumatera 29124, Indonesia
  • Dedek Afrida

    Department of Indonesia Language and Literature Education, Universitas Muslim Nusantara Al-Washliyah, Medan 20147, Indonesia
  • Liesna Andriany

    Department of Indonesian Language and Literature Education, Universitas Islam Sumatera Utara, Medan 20371, Indonesia
  • Yuldasheva Dilnoza Khasan Kizi

    Department of Philology and Language Education, Navoi University of Innovation, Navoi Region, Uzbekistan
  • Mukhammadkhon Soliev

    Innovative Centre, Samarqand 140100, Uzbekistan
  • Herman

    Department of English Education, Universitas HKBP Nommensen Pematangsiantar, Pematangsiantar 21135, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i7.10109
Received: 20 May 2025 | Revised: 9 June 2025 | Accepted: 19 June 2025 | Published Online: 14 July 2025

Abstract

This research discusses the social role of the Jawa Deli community in shaping the linguistic and cultural identity of Javanese descendants born in Sumatra. Using a qualitative approach with ethnographic methods, this study involved in-depth interviews, participant observation, and document studies with 40 participants from 4 districts (Deli Serdang, Serdang Bedagai, Batu Bara, and Langkat). Data were collected through daily interactions, also considering the use of everyday language, including phonetic, phonological, syntactic, and semantic aspects, to understand the linguistic adaptations that occurred. The research results indicate that 40% of participants still actively use the Javanese language, 35% understand but do not actively use it, and 25% do not master Javanese. Regarding cultural identity, 45% have a strong attachment to Javanese culture, 30% have a moderate attachment, and 25% have integrated other cultures into their identity. The main factors influencing this identity are the social environment, education, and media exposure. The Jawa Deli family and community serve as central points in the transmission of cultural values and language through oral traditions, social activities, and customary practices. However, the influence of modernization and interaction with multicultural society has led to processes of acculturation and assimilation that impact the identity changes of the younger generation. This research emphasizes that cultural and linguistic identity are not static but continuously evolve in accordance with social dynamics. These findings provide insight into the preservation of Javanese culture in North Sumatra and strategic efforts to maintain cultural heritage amidst the currents of globalization.

Keywords:

Cultural Identity; Linguistic Identity; Deli Javanese Community; Acculturation; Social Interaction

References

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How to Cite

Sutikno, S., Rohmadi, M., Siam, N. U., Afrida, D., Andriany, L., Kizi, Y. D. K., Soliev, M., & Herman. (2025). The Social Role of the Java “Deli Community in Shaping the Language and Cultural Identity of Java Descendants Born in Sumatra. Forum for Linguistic Studies, 7(7), 257–269. https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i7.10109

Issue

Vol. 7 , Iss. 7 (July 2025): In progress

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Article

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Copyright © 2025 Sutikno Sutikno, Muhammad Rohmadi, Nurbaiti Usman Siam, Dedek Afrida, Liesna Andriany, Yuldasheva Dilnoza Khasan Kizi, Mukhammadkhon Soliev, Herman

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This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.