Eka Nur Cahyani, a student of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture (BSBJ) Study Program at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), implemented a regional language and script preservation program during the UGM Community Empowerment Student Study Service (KKN-PPM) for the second period of 2026. Eka, a 2023 cohort student, was part of the KKN unit "Waksudha Bansari 2026" (code JT123), which carried out service in Bansari Village, Temanggung Regency, from June 20 to August 8, 2026.

During her time in Bansari Village, Eka conducted two programs related to her field of study: Nyinau Basa Temanggungan (Learning Temanggung Language) and Ayo Sinau Aksara Jawa (Let’s Learn Javanese Script). The first program focused on documenting the Temanggung language (Bansari dialect), while the second was aimed at introducing Javanese script to students at SDN (Public Elementary School) Bansari, specifically in Pringapus hamlet, Bansari Village.

Through the Nyinau Basa Temanggungan program, Eka compiled a pocket dictionary of the Temanggung language (Bansari dialect). Vocabulary data was collected through interviews with village officials and community members who are native speakers, utilizing the Swadesh 200-word list. The Swadesh 200-word list is a basic vocabulary list compiled by linguist Morris Swadesh in 1952. This list contains approximately 200 universal concepts believed to be possessed by nearly all languages; they are relatively stable, rarely borrowed, and tend to persist over long periods (Swadesh, 1952). The data was then analyzed and organized into entries for a pocketbook, complete with word categories and Indonesian equivalents. Uniquely, the compilation of this dictionary also served as an application of knowledge acquired from her Lexicography and Interdisciplinary Linguistics courses. The pocketbook is expected to document the Bansari dialect of the Temanggung language still used by the community while acting as a medium to introduce local language and culture to support the development of Bansari Village as a tourist destination.

Furthermore, the second program, Ayo Sinau Aksara Jawa, was carried out in collaboration with students at SDN Bansari. The activity began with coordination with teachers to determine the state of Javanese script instruction at the school. Subsequently, material was delivered through flashcards, educational games, reading and writing practice, and an introduction to the rules of Javanese script writing.

Enthusiasm of SDN Bansari Students in Participating in the Ayo Nyinau Aksara Jawa Program

In addition to reading and writing, Eka also introduced the iluminasi rerenggan (illuminated ornamentation) found in Javanese manuscripts to the students. Illumination refers to the brightening or heightening of a manuscript page's impression through writing techniques, color patterns, decorative framing of text, rubrics, and calligraphy (Behrend, 1996), including wedana, rerenggan, and stanza markers (Saktimulya, 2015). After being introduced to rerenggan as manuscript decoration, the students were invited to decorate their names written in Javanese script. Through this activity, the students not only practiced writing the script but also became familiar with elements of art and aesthetics in the Javanese manuscript tradition.

In its implementation, both programs naturally faced a number of challenges. In the Nyinau Basa Temanggungan program, for example, differences in vocabulary usage were found between generations. This condition required Eka to verify data with multiple sources to ensure accuracy. Meanwhile, in the Ayo Sinau Aksara Jawa program, challenges arose from the diverse abilities of the students and the perception that Javanese script is a difficult subject to learn.

Nevertheless, both programs received a positive response from the community and the school. In compiling the dictionary, the community and village officials provided information on vocabulary still used in daily conversation. At school, students participated in the Javanese script program with enthusiasm, both through games and script-writing practice. According to Eka, the use of interactive learning media is one way to increase students' interest and ability in reading and writing Javanese script.

The KKN-PPM implementation produced two main outputs. The Nyinau Basa Temanggungan program resulted in a printed and digital pocket dictionary of the Temanggung language (Bansari dialect), which can be accessed via the following link: Google Drive Link.

Meanwhile, the Ayo Sinau Aksara Jawa program produced a number of student works in the form of rerenggan illuminations on Javanese script writing. Both outputs are part of an effort to document local language while introducing Javanese script and traditional arts to the younger generation.

Some examples of work by SDN Bansari students

KKN-PPM programs like the one conducted by Eka serve as a tangible form of introducing, preserving, and "grounding" the wealth of regional culture, specifically Javanese language and culture, through direct involvement in the community. By compiling the pocket dictionary and providing Javanese script instruction to elementary students, the knowledge gained during her studies was applied while providing benefits to the community. These activities also align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Point 4 on quality education and Point 17 on partnerships for the goals, through collaboration between students, the community, village government, and schools.

Author            : Eka Nur Cahyani & Haryo Untoro
Editor             : Haryo Untoro

References

Behrend, T. E. (1996). Textual Gateways: The Javanese Manuscript Tradition. Dalam A. Kumar & J. H. McGlynn (Eds.), Illuminations: The Writing Traditions of Indonesia: Featuring Manuscripts from the National Library of Indonesia (pp. 161–200). The Lontar Foundation; New York & Tokyo: Weatherhill, Inc. https://books.google.com/books?id=-n5iAAAAMAAJ 

Swadesh, M. (1952). Lexico-statistic dating of prehistoric ethnic contacts. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, 96(4), 452–463.

Saktimulya, S. R. (2015). Naskah-Naskah Skriptorium Pakualaman Periode Paku Alam II (1830–1858): Kajian Kodikologi, Filologi, dan Hermeneutika. École française d'Extrême-Orient.