The most commonly used language by Bekasi residents is Indonesian language, this is because Bekasi is an industrial area that has diversity in terms of ethnicity and language. However, there are two regional languages used by the native population in Bekasi regency and city, namely Sundanese (Bekasi dialect) and Betawi (Bekasi dialect).[2][pageneeded][3] According to estimates by 2024, Bekasi Sundanese will have approximately 1,200,000 speakers out of a total population of 5,710,675 people in Bekasi regency and city. The percentage is around 21% of the total population in the area.[1]
The Bekasi Sundanese dialect is mainly spoken in the eastern and southern parts of Bekasi Regency, including the districts of Bojongmangu, Cibarusah, Central Cikarang, South Cikarang, East Cikarang, Kedungwaringin, Pebayuran, Serang Baru, Setu, as well as in some areas of the districts of West Cikarang, Karangbahagia, Sukakarya, and South Tambun. Meanwhile, in Bekasi City, Bekasi Sundanese dialect speaking area includes Bantargebang (covers all sub-districts), Jatisampurna (mainly in Jatirangga and Jatikarya), and Mustikajaya (only in Cimuning and Padurenan).[4] The boundary between the main speech area of Bekasi Sundanese and other languages is also unique, namely it is limited by National Road Route 1 or known as North Coast Road. The mapping is that Sundanese language is spoken in the south and east, while Betawi language is spoken in the north and west.[5]
The Bekasi Sundanese dialect also generally influences the Betawi language variety spoken in Bekasi regency and city today. Due to the mixing and massive population growth rate, over time Bekasi Sundanese has its own uniqueness which forms its own character as a dialect.[6] There are also slight differences in vocabulary among Sundanese speakers in the southern and eastern parts of the speaking area. In the southern part, the dialect is closely related to Bogor Sundanese. Meanwhile, in the eastern part, the speakers are closer culturally and linguistically to the speakers of Karawang Sundanese. The Cikarang area is the cultural boundary between the east and south in Bekasi Sundanese speaking area.[5]
Usage
The use of Sundanese in Bekasi regency and city is considered to be in a vulnerable condition. This is the main factor in the shift of Sundanese language users to using Indonesian or Betawi Malay, which are considered easier to understand for people from other ethnic groups.[7] As an effort to preserve it, Bekasi Sundanese dialect has also been proposed as teaching material in local content at the senior high school level, especially in the Setu district.[8]
↑ Calculated based on the estimated population in 9 Sundanese-speaking districts in Bekasi Regency and several sub-districts in 3 districts in Bekasi City that speak Sundanese, and several villages/sub-districts (excluding villages/sub-districts in Sundanese-speaking districts) in the regency and city of Bekasi which speak Sundanese.[1]
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