COMPETITION OF JAVANESE AND INDONESIAN: A MIXED-METHODS APPROACH TO YOUNG MULTILINGUALS’ LANGUAGE CHOICE

Multilingualism differs from place to place, with different pressures and outcomes depending on each unique situation. In Indonesian context, an important factor is the status and over prestige afforded to the national language, posing a possible threat to local language vitality. This study reports the position of Javanese and Indonesian as parts of the language repertoire of young Yogyakartan multilinguals in three domains: home, school, and the street. A mixed-methods approach was used and the main data were collected through questionnaire and observations at ten participating high schools. The students’ survey was responded by 1,039 students. Their natural language use was recorded at school playground. Supporting data were collected from language teachers’ survey and interviews with school authorities. The findings show that Javanese and Indonesian still compete in the three domains but not in all sociolinguistic situations. The youths’ Javanese-Indonesian choice is mostly dependent on gender and parental level of education.