Javanese

/jav'euh neez", -nees", jah'veuh-/, adj., n., pl. Javanese.

adj.

1. of or pertaining to the island of Java, its people, or their language.

n.

2. a member of the native Malayan people of Java, esp. of that branch of it in the central part of the island.

3. the Austronesian language of central Java.

[1695-1705; Javan (JAV(A) + -AN) + -ESE]

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Any member of the largest ethnic group on the island of Java, Indonesia.

They speak an Austronesian language. The Javanese are Muslim, though relatively few are strictly observant. Traditional Javanese social organization varied in structure from relatively egalitarian villages to the highly stratified society of the cities; these differences find expression in the many Javanese styles of speech still in use. Javanese villages are compact groups of single-family houses, generally built of bamboo, surrounding a central square. Rice is the main food crop. The growth of large cities in Java has produced an urban underclass who live in makeshift huts in enclosed neighbourhoods.

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▪ people

Indonesian  Orang Djawa 

 largest ethnic group on the island of Java, Indonesia. Their language, spoken by more than 71 million people, belongs to the Austronesian (Austronesian languages) (Malayo-Polynesian) family, as do those of neighbouring but different groups such as the Sundanese of southwest Java and the Madurese of northeast Java. The Javanese are Muslim, though Hindu traditions of an earlier era are still evident and relatively few Javanese carefully observe Muslim precepts. Belief in spirits is widespread.

      Traditional Javanese social organization varied in structure from relatively egalitarian villages to the highly stratified society of the cities, with their complex court life. These differences found linguistic expression in styles of speech that vary according to status differences between the persons speaking: an informal style, a polite style, an extremely polite style, and several others. These styles are more elaborate in Javanese than in other languages of the area and are used habitually.

      The growth of large cities in Java has produced an urban proletariat, mostly of rural origin, who live in makeshift huts in enclosed neighbourhoods called kampongs. Javanese villages are compact groups of single-family houses, generally built of bamboo, surrounding a central square. Though rice is the main food crop, a variety of others are produced, including corn (maize), cassava, peanuts (groundnuts), and soybeans.

      The Javanese family is typically composed of parents and dependent children, though it may include other close relatives. Most first marriages are arranged by the parents; but divorce is easy, and women are relatively free to leave their husbands.

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