SUNDANESE ISOGLOSSES OF LEXICAL VARIATION IN KABUPATEN KUNINGAN


ENGLISH REVIEW: Journal of English Education ISSN 2301-7554
Vol. 1, Issue 2, June 2013 http://journal.uniku.ac.id/index.php/ERJEE

1

SUNDANESE ISOGLOSSES OF LEXICAL
VARIATION IN KUNINGAN

Fahmy Hygienis
University of Kuningan, Indonesia

E-mail: fahmyhygienic@gmail.com

APA Citation: Hygienis, F. (2013). Sundanese isoglosses of lexical variation in Kuningan. English
Review: Journal of English Education, 1(2), 200-207

Received: 12-02-2013 Accepted: 03-04-2013 Published: 01-06-2013

Abstract: This article discussed the distribution of lexical variation in 32 districts of
Kuningan. The study was conducted to uncover dialect maps in Kuningan, their isogloss
lines, and also major lexical variations. The study employed descriptive design. The data
were collected from 32 respondents by using two methods, questionnaire and interview.
Each respondent represents one district of Kuningan. By using judgment sampling
technique, the respondents were chosen. The data were analyzed in three ways: populating
the data, mapping the data and describing the map. As the result, the study revealed 30
dialect maps in Kuningan. The maps described the distributions of 135 lexical variations
and the isogloss lines. Based on the maps; it was also found that the isogloss lines were
mostly overlapping. It means that, most of Kuningan people tend to use different lexical
variations compared to their surrounding districts. Besides, it was also found that there
were five major lexical variations used by the Kuningans.
Keywords: dialect, lexical variation, isogloss.

INTRODUCTION
In Sundanese language, there are so

many word variations in describing
something. The variations may appear
differently at every place in Sunda (West
Java & Banten Provinces). The word
“loba” which means many, is called
“jenuk” in Kabupaten Kuningan and “rea”
in some places around Bandung. The
word “mandi” or bathe in Sundanese has
a different variation in Kabupaten
Majalengka, it is called “papung”.
Occasionally, it is confusing when
meeting other people from the other
regions in Sunda and talk to them.

The phenomenon of word or
lexical variation is not only coming into
view in the level of province but also in
the level of regency. Kabupaten Kuningan,
regency in the east side of West Java has
so many variations. This regency consists
of 32 districts with 980.605 populations

in the year 2002 (retrieved from
http://www.kuningan.go. id).

The phenomenon of lexical
variation is a part of dialectology.
Dialectology is one of the most
interesting researches in linguistics
domain. Wakelin (1972) as cited by
Milroy (1987) investigates isoglosses in
England. He illustrates the boundary
between The Northern and North-
midland dialect by showing eight
isoglosses. Other researchers are Labov,
Ash and Boberg (1997). Their study of
American English Dialect shows three
major Regional dialects in USA (The
North, South and West). Besides, there is
Teeuw (1951) as cited from Ayatrohaedi
(2002:17) who investigates dialect in
Lombok. He is the pioneer of regional
dialect researcher in Indonesia.

Regional dialect of every place in
one language may appear differently. It

mailto:fahmyhygienic@gmail.com


FAHMY HYGIENIS
Sundanese Isoglosses Of Lexical Variation In Kuningan

iscaused by geographical condition of the
places. When geographical features
imply to the dialect it is called regional
dialect. As explained by Wardhaugh
(1992, p. 42) “various language
implications such as pronunciation, word
choices, syntax and form of word can be
very useful in describing variation or
dialect. Because of that, it can serve as the
map of dialect distribution to show their
geographical provenance and called
dialect geography”.

Later, the lexical variation will be
analyzed and bounded by the line. The
boundaries or lines between different
places that have same features
(pronunciation or word choice) can be
called as isoglosses. Wardhaugh (1992: 43)
states that sometimes the maps of dialect
geography are made to show the
boundaries between the various
language features, that boundaries called
isoglosses.

This study was focused on dialect
geography. The study analyzed the
Sundanese lexical variations in Kuningan,
and served in a form of maps. The maps
consisted of the lexical variations
distribution and isoglosses as the
boundary. This study is hoped to add
deep understanding about dialect,
especially in Sundanese dialect and its
lexical variation.

As we know, Indonesia is a big
country with heterogenic society and
culture. Every ethnic group in Indonesia
has their own languages. Bataknese,
Sundanese, Balinese are some examples
of the ethnic languages. Therefore, they
need to be revealed and studied. Ahmad
(1999) in Ayatrohaedi (2002) states that
there are 700 languages and dialects in
Indonesia. He states mostly Indonesian
linguists are interested in language
structure; about 90%. The rest of that;
10% should divided to sociolinguistics,
historical linguistics, dialectology,

language education, psycholinguistics,
etc.

METHOD
The research problem is formulated

in the following research questions: How
are the distribution maps of lexical
variation in Kabupaten Kuningan? Were
the isoglosses taking place in the map?
What words are mostly used by the
Kuningans as their dialect?

This study engaged a qualitative
approach. This method was applied to
reveal the phenomena of the Sundanese
dialect geography or dialect boundary in
Kuningan. Strauss and Corbin (1990, p.
5) stated that “a qualitative method can
be used to uncover and understand what
lies behind phenomena about which little
is yet known”. It is the quality in
describing and analyzing the data not the
quantity or how many data that we get.
Furthermore, Arikunto, (2005 in Hatta
2007, p. 5) states that in presenting the
data, “descriptive analysis method is not
generally directed toward hypothesis
testing, but only to describe the existing
phenomena and current condition
without being influenced by the
investigator”.

Gumperz as cited in Milroy (1987, p.
3) stated that the subject of the linguistic
investigation is language or part of
language. Since the research is conducted
in Kabupaten Kuningan, the subject dealt
with the dialects (as a part of language)
in Kuningan. Focus of the research is on
the isogloss of lexical variation, so the
dialect will be focused on the word or
lexical variation in 32 districts of
Kuningan.

Kabupaten Kuningan is the regency
with 980.605 populations and 32 districts.
To uncover the isogloss of Kuningan
dialect, the study needed various dialects
from those 32 districts to examine. These
are the districts name: Kuningan,



ENGLISH REVIEW: Journal of English Education ISSN 2301-7554
Vol. 1, Issue 2, June 2013 http://journal.uniku.ac.id/index.php/ERJEE

3

Kramatmulya, Ciniru, Hantara, Cigugur,
Luragung, Cimahi, Cibingbin,
Cibeureum, Ciwaru, Karangkancana,
Garawangi, Sindangagung, Cidahu,
Kalimanggis, Ciawigebang, Cipicung,
Lebakwangi, Maleber, Cilimus,
Cigandamekar, Jalaksana, Japara,
Mandirancan, Pancalang, Pasawahan,
Kadugede, Nusaherang, Darma,
Selajambe, Subang, and Cilebak.

By using judgment sampling, 32
persons were chosen as the respondents.
This type of sampling was used by
Macaulay to uncover the Glasgow
speech in 1977. He employed 54
respondents of 17 schools in Glasgow by
using judgment sampling (Macaulay
1977 in Milroy 1987, p. 26). Besides,
Boberg (2005) engaged 54 students of
McGill University in his research. Milroy
(1987, p. 26) stated that “the principle of
judgment sampling is how the researcher
identifies the types of respondent to be
studied and then seek out quota of the
respondents who fit the categories”.

In this research, the judgment
was based on three categories such as:
livelihood, language use and birth place.
Those categories represent 32 districts of
Kuningan. Based on the category, SMA 2
Kuningan is the appropriate place to
choose. 20 students were picked as the
respondents. They were asked to fill up
the questionnaire based on 30 questions
of Kuningans lexical variations.

However, to fulfill 32 districts of
Kuningan, the study needs other
respondents beside the students. Because
of that, 12 people were selected to cover
up the study. They were the civil servant
worked in Puskesmas (Public Health
Center) Lamepayung, they are coming
from 12 different districts in Kuningan.

This research used several
techniques in collecting the data. The
techniques that used are interview and
questionnaire. Besides, pilot study was

conducted in order to get preliminary
data of lexical variation in Kuningan.
These are the steps of data collection.
Pilot study is the way to find out
preliminary data. Preliminary data is
more like a key to open the gate of
research. In this research, pilot study was
conducted in March 2008, by using two
instruments, questionnaire and interview.

The questionnaires were given to
the 32 people from different places all
over Kuningan. They were asked to write
down some dialects that used by the
people in their places. However, there
were only 27 person who returning the
questionnaire with the answer on it.

To cover up the deficit, interview
was conducted to some peoples that
attend to know the dialect in Kuningan.
The interviewees are the persons who
have high mobility in Kuningan and
knowing most of dialect of it. Based on
the criteria, two interviewees were
chosen. The first is Drs. H Uhadi. He is
the branch chief of PaguyubanPasundan in
Kuningan and formerly he was the
headmaster of many high schools in
Kuningan. The second is Mr Ihak
Sunardi S.Pd. He is the teacher of
Sundanese in SMPN Lebakwangi
Kuningan.

By conducting the study, more than
50 dialects with 150 lexical variations of
Kuningan was discovered. However,
there are only 30 dialects formulated in
the questionnaire, because of the
shortages. Most of 20 reductions have the
same meaning with other or even not
including in Kuningan’s regional dialect,
so that there were only 30 dialects in the
questionnaire.

After the preliminary data of
Kuningan’s lexical variation populated,
questionnaire was made to get the
geographical dialect of Kuningan.
Geographical dialect was the main
instrument in analyzing isogloss. The



FAHMY HYGIENIS
Sundanese Isoglosses Of Lexical Variation In Kuningan

questionnaires were given to the
respondents in form of two pages with
two sections of questions. This type of
questionnaire adopted from Boberg (2005,
p. 64) in his research of North American
Vocabulary Survey at McGill University.
The questionnaires were begun with
standard questions of demographic
information of the respondent such as:
name, birth place, live, and language use.
Then the main questions of 30 lexical
variables.

In order to make the respondents
easier in filling the questionnaire, each
question was provided in a brief
definition of the variable, followed by a
list of the most common variants of the
variable known to the respondents. The
respondents were asked to circle the
variant they would most often use in
everyday speech or to write in the word
they would use if it did not appear
among those listed. They were
instructed to circle more than one word
only if necessary, and if the answer not
listed, they can write down on the paper.

After the data were collected, next
step of the study was analyzing the data.
This process took at least three steps of
analyzing. First step was populating,
mapping the dialect geography and then
drew the isogloss lines. Populating was
the first step in this research analysis.
Firstly, data from the questionnaires
were categorized based on the lexicon
and the place it used. The data were
served in the form of table. However, the
data from the questionnaire shows that
the dialect and variations were mostly in
the level Basaloma/ Basakasar in
Sundanese speech level. Therefore, the
data were presented only in one level of
speech; Sundanese Basaloma.

According to Ayatrohaedi (2002, p.
46), basically, “there are three steps in
making the map of dialect geography: a)
drawing the map and filling the

variations on the map, b) showing the
map, and c) discussing the map”.

In this research, the map was the
construction of the KabupatenKuningan
basic map. By using the Adobe
Photoshop 6.0 ®software, the map was
rebuilt to get 30 new maps with the
symbols of lexical variations. The
reconstruction process needed at least
three steps. Firstly, the basic map was
rebuilt into a bald map. The bald map
can be used as a master map, to make the
process of filling the data easier.
Secondly, fill the map with the lexical
variations. The last thing is drawing the
isogloss in the map.

The new maps show the spreads of
30 lexical variations in Kuningan. It was
served in 30 maps. Each map illustrated
the distribution of lexical variations in
Kuningan. Technically, each lexical
variation was represented by one symbol.
For example in lexical variation map of

wedding tent, the symbols like: =

represents the tatarub variation, =

represents paratag, = represents

balandongan, and = represents
papayon. Those symbols were drawn in
the map based on the places appearances.
This kind of technique was similar with
Teeuw (1948 in Ayatrohaedi 2002: 17) in
his Lomboknese map.

Last step of the analysis was
drawing the line of Isoglosses on the
map. The line was drawn based on the
same variations. However, in the real
situation the isoglosses intersect with
another line. To handle this problem, the
intersection line was drawn on the maps.

Technically, the isoglosses in the
map was in the form ( ) lines and the
intersection in ( ) lines. Those lines
were the representation of the



ENGLISH REVIEW: Journal of English Education ISSN 2301-7554
Vol. 1, Issue 2, June 2013 http://journal.uniku.ac.id/index.php/ERJEE

5

boundaries between each lexical
variation in the same meaning.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Based on the data collected, it is

found that there are 30 signifieds with
135 lexical variations in Sundanese
Basaloma distribute in Kabupaten
Kuningan. It is because of the respondent,
the respondents are mostly students.
They usually use Basaloma in their daily

speech. As the result the data tabulation
was only tabulated by the variations of
basaloma/ basakasar. The data were
analyzed in terms of signified, lexical
variation and district. Regarding the first
and the second research questions the
maps were made. The maps were made,
based on the data tabulation. The maps
show the distribution of lexical
variations and their isoglosses.

Example of Dialect Map:

MAP NO Distribution of Wedding Tent
Scale 1: 5000004. 1

Legends:

= Balandongan = Tatarub

= Paratag = Papayon
= Isoglosses
= Intersection



FAHMY HYGIENIS
Sundanese Isoglosses Of Lexical Variation In Kuningan

Based on the data collected, there
are 135 lexical variations of 30 meaning
or signified found in Kuningan. From the
135 variations, there are 5 major lexical
variations in KabupatenKuningan:

/nyiru/, /senteng/, /batu/, /gandéng/
and /ngawada/. From 30 districts, the
variation of /nyiru/ leads with 90%. It is
used in all districts of Kuningan, except
in Pancalang. It is summarized in table 1.

Table 1. Major lexical variations in Kuningan

No
Dialect Appearance in 32

District Percentage Σ %Meaning Lexical Variation

1 Bamboo Basket
Nyiru 31 96,60

100 %
Cécémpéh 1 03,40

2
Compartment upon
window or door

Senteng 28 87,50
100 %

Loster 4 12,50

3 Stone
Batu 27 84,40

100 %
Mungkal 5 25,60

4 Noisy

Seah 2 06,25

100 %
Sangar 2 06,25
Gandéng 27 84,40
Kawus 1 03,40

5 Blaming
Ngawada 27 84,40

100 %Nyalahkeun 3 12,20
Tudah-tuduh 1 03,40

There are some patterns found in
drawing isogloss lines on the map.
Ayatrohaedi (2002: 71) states that every
map has its own interpretation. The
isogloss line is the imagery line that can
help in determining the interpretation.
The line will show the pattern, whether it
is grouping, overlapping or unpattern
line.

Based on the maps it is found that
there are 126 isogloss lines .The lines on
the maps are mostly overlapping. It is
about 70% of isoglosses. This situation is
signed by the intersection between one
isogloss to another. The overlapping
isoglosses indicate that most of
Kuningan people tend to use different
lexical variations compared to their
surrounding districts. The examples are
shown in Map 4.3. There is an
intersection between/hawangan/ (in
Cilebak, Karangkancana, and Lurangung)
and /lebak/ (in Ciniru, Hantara, Cimahi,

Cibingbin, Cibeureum, Ciwaru, Cidahu,
Cipicung, Lebakwangi, Maleber,
Kadugede, Selajambe and Subang).

Twenty percent of the isogloss lines
are grouping. This condition indicates
“clean isoglosses” which means that the
people in Kuningan know the variation
outside their districts, but they use their
own variation. The example is shown in
map 4.2. There is no intersection among
the isogloss line. It clearly seperates the
variations /nyiru/ and /cécémpéh/.

10% of the isogloss lines are random
distribution. In this particular situation,
it is difficult to draw the isogloss lines.
The example is illustrated in Map 4.25.
There is no boundary between /améh/
in Kramatmulya, Ciniru, Hantara,
Cimahi, Cibeureum, Garawangi, Cidahu,
Kalimanggis, Cipicung, Cigandamekar,
Jalaksana, Kadugede, Nusaherang,
Selajambe, Subang, and Cilebak; and
/mis/ Sindangagung, Ciawigebang, and



ENGLISH REVIEW: Journal of English Education ISSN 2301-7554
Vol. 1, Issue 2, June 2013 http://journal.uniku.ac.id/index.php/ERJEE

7

Cilimus; and /ambéh/ in Kuningan,
Cigugur, Ciwaru, Karangkancana,
Maleber, Japara, and Mandirancan,
because those variations spread
unpatternly.

CONCLUSIONS
The present study is aimed to

uncover the distribution of lexical
variations, the isogloss lines and the
major variations in Kabupaten Kuningan.
Based on the lexical distribution data, the
map is drawn. The study describes 30
dialect maps in Kabupaten Kuningan.

Regarding the second research
problem, it is found that there are 126
isogloss lines in 30 dialect maps in
Kabupaten Kuningan. The isoglosses lines
are mostly overlapped with the others.
70% of the maps indicate that there are
“overlapping isoglosses”. This indicates
that every district in Kuningan has more
than one lexical variation in describing
one signified. In other words, most of
Kuningan people tend to use different
lexical variations compared to their
surrounding districts.

Concerning the third research
problem, which concerns the major
variations used by the Kuningans, the
study finds that there are five variations
mostly used by more than 20 districts in
Kuningan. The variations are /nyiru/,
/senteng/, /batu/, /gandéng/, and
/ngawada.

Based on the result of the study,
there are number of issues, which could
profitably be explored in future research.
The present study focuses only on the
lexical variations. Further study is
suggested to investigate not only on
lexical variation, but also phonological,
syntactical, or even on semantic
differences in dialectology. Besides, the
study did not investigate the factor
influence the distribution, further study
is suggested to investigate dialectology

in diachronic way in order to uncover
the correlation between the factor and
the distribution.

One of the most obvious
weaknesses of this study concerns is the
method of the data collection. This study
uses pilot study in order to get
preliminary data. However, the study
employs only questionnaires and
interview to some people. It is suggested
for the further study to do straight
observation and interview to the
respondent, so that rich data will be
collected. However the methods have
disadvantages such as time and cost,
those method need more time and
money.

REFERENCES
Ayatrohaedi. (2002). Pedoman penelitian

dialektologi. Jakarta: Pusat Bahasa
Departemen Pendidikan Nasional.

Aziz, E. A. (2000). Refusing in Indonesian:
strategies and politeness implications.
Unpublished doctoral dissertation,
Monash University Australia.

Boberg, C. (2005). The north American regional
vocabulary survey: new variables and
method in the study of north American
English. American DialectSociety.
Retrieved from:
http://logos.uoregon.edu/explore/so
cioling/regionaldialect.html. [27march
2004].

Ekadjati, S. E. (2003). Sejarah Kuningan dari
masa prasejarah hingga terbentuknya
kabupaten. Bandung: PT Kiblat Buku
Utama.

Hatta, M. S. (2007). Similies and methaphor in
Indonesian translation of the adventures of
SherlockHolmes. Unpublish Paper,
Indonesia University of Education.

Heeringa, W. (2001). Dialect variation in and
around frisia: classification and
relationships. Retrieved 12 January 2008
from www.let.rug.nl/~heeringa/
dialectology/papers/uswk04.pdf.

Holmes, J. (2001). An introduction to
sociolinguistics (second edition). Essex:
Pearson Education Limited.

http://logos.uoregon.edu/explore/socioling/regionaldialect.html.%20%5b27
http://www.let.rug.nl/~heeringa/


FAHMY HYGIENIS
Sundanese Isoglosses Of Lexical Variation In Kuningan

Hornby, S.A. (2000). Oxford advanced learner’s
dictionary. Oxford: Oxford University
Press.

Hudson, R. A. (1980). Sociolinguistics. London:
The Press Syndicate of University of
Cambridge.

Labov, W, S. Ash, and C. Boberg. (1997). A
national map of the regional dialects of
American English. Retrieved on 27
March 2004 from:
http://logos.uoregon.edu/explore/so
cioling/regionaldialect.html.

Mahsun (1995). Dialektologi diakronis: sebuah
pengantar. Jogjakarta: Gajah Mada
University Press.

Manser, H. M. (1991). Oxford learner’s pocket
dictionary. Oxford: Oxford University
Press.

Milroy, L. (1987). Observing & analysing
natural language. New York: Basil
BackwellInc.

Nurbaiti, A. (2005). Geografi dialek bahasa jawa
di kecamatan Gadingrejo kabupaten
Tanggamus provinsi Lampung.
Unpublished Paper, Indonesia
University of Education.

Pemerintahan Daerah Kuningan (2000). Web
site resmi pemerintahan daerah kabupaten
Kuningan. Retrieved on 11 November

2006 from http//www.kuningan.go.
id.

Sekarini, D. (2005). Geografi dialek bahasa
Sunda di kabupaten Garut. Unpublished
Paper, Indonesia University of
Education.

Senjaya, A. (2005). Basa Sunda dialek Sukabumi
di kecamatan Waluran. Unpublished
Paper, Indonesia University of
Education.

Shank, G. (1995). Semiotics and qualitative
research in education: The third
crossroad. The Qualitative Report, 2(3).
Retrieved on 24 April 2006 from:
http//www.nova.edu/sssss/QR/QR2
-3/shank.html.

Spolsky, B. (1998). Sociolinguistics. Oxford:
Oxf ord University Press.

Strauss, A and Coebin, J. (1990). Basic of
qualitative research: Grounded theory
procedures and techniques. Newbury
Park: Sage Publication.

Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia. (2006).
Pedoman Penulisan Karya Ilmiah.
Bandung: Indonesia University of
Education.

Wardhaugh, R. (1992). An introduction to
sociolinguistics (second edition). Malden:
Blackwell Publisher.

http://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/QR2-3/shank.html