A Contrastive Analysis of Rice Terms in Javanese and English

Adelia Trisna Putri (41420008)

adeliatepe@gmail.com

Abstract
This study aims to identify the similarities and differences between the rice terms in
Javanese and English. This research is an attempt to identify, analyze, classify and contrast
the terms of food that are used in English and Javanese language. This study uses a
qualitative method. The data source is from Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries and web articles.
From the results of the data analysis, it is known that there are differences in terms of the
word rice in the two languages. English only has 2 terms for rice: rice and paddy. While in
the Javanese language has 19 terms from the word rice: damen, pari, gabah, kapak, kawul,
merang, katul, dedak, bekatul, menir, las, leri, sego, upo, tajin, intip, kenul, and karak.
Then there are similarities in the two languages in the mention of the word rice, namely
pari – paddy.

Keywords: Contrastive analysis, Javanese, rice

1. Introduction
In this world, each country has a language, because everyone communicates with
each other and they all have their way of communicating. It is possible that a language
differs from one country to another and even between regions and hometowns has a unique
way of speaking. Language is culture. Foreign language enthusiasts arise because of the
peculiarities of different languages. The similarities and differences of each of these
languages are the starting point for people's curiosity to learn the language used for work or
other reasons. Indonesia itself has many languages in each region, including Javanese,
Sundanese, and Batak, even more in various regions. When we discuss English, the world's
international language.

Javanese is an Austronesian language family spoken mainly by Javanese in the

central and eastern parts of Java. Javanese is the most widely spoken language in Indonesia.
This language is used by Javanese people, including Central Java, Yogyakarta, and East
Java. English is a member of the Indo-European language family. It is widely spoken on six
continents and is the first language of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia,
Ireland, New Zealand, and several island nations of the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific
Ocean. English is the most widely spoken language in the world.

Food is one of the basic needs of living things and plays an important role in life
because without food, living things cannot survive. Food is any material that we eat or enter
the body that forms or replaces body tissues, provides energy, or regulates all processes in
the body. Since ancient times, rice has been part of the culture of the Indonesian people or
Southeast Asian people in general and the language has also developed along with the
civilization and culture of the Asian people. English and Javanese are two different
languages. English belongs to the Indo-European language family, while Javanese belongs
to the Austronesian language family, for example, rice.

Contrastive analysis is a study of comparing the two languages and is a term used in
linguistics to find the difference between the units. It is also a means to differentiate the
meaning of language in a sentence. As a language, English and Javanese have some
similarities besides the differences. One of them is the word “rice” in the Javanese
language. This study aimed at identifying the similarities and differences between the
English and Javanese imperative sentence by using a contrastive analysis related to their
functions.
 Theoretically, this research is expected to contribute to the development of
linguistics and become a reference source in the field. This research is also intended to
provide input in contrastive analysis and is expected to provide additional information to
readers about the various terms of rice in English and Javanese.

2. Statement of the Problem

In connection with the background that has been mentioned, the problems that will
be answered in this research are: What are the differences and similarities of rice terms
between the two languages?

3. Theoretical Framework

When we talk about language, culture will automatically be included in it. This
happens because there is a very close relationship between language and culture. For
example, when in English rice can mean beras, nasi, padi, atau gabah. This can happen
because for the British rice is not the main ingredient or food because in England rice does
not grow. For Javanese people whose main food is rice very close to their lives, rice
products can be named in various ways depending on the context of their existence.

The same thing happens with the word 'snow'. Because in Java or Indonesia there is
no snow, whatever its form and existence, 'snow' is only called salju. On the other hand, in
England, which has four seasons and it usually snows when winter arrives, the word 'snow'
has several names (Lestari, 2010). According to FAOSTAT (Food and Agriculture
Organization Corporate Statistical Database) data, it is noted that rice is an agricultural
commodity with the third-highest production in the world after sugarcane and corn.
However, as the main calorie supply for daily food is rice (staple food), the portion is larger
than corn, which is partly planted not for the consumption of staple foods.

In the third edition of the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary (2008), it is

stated that snowflakes that fall from the sky are called flakes, snow that is already on the
ground and forms a white layer is called snow, sprinkles are light snowfall that is only
briefly, snow that falls in an erratic direction because strong gusts of wind are called flurry,
sleet is the name for snow that falls to the earth along with rain, and slush is snow that is
already on the ground and then begins to melt.

Several studies related to contrastive analysis have been carried out. According to
Sumanti's research (2021) entitled “Istilah-Istilah Makanan dan Minuman dalam Bahasa
Inggris dan Bahasa Tobelo”. The writer finds some differences between the two languages.
English does not have liquid food, while Tobelo has liquid food. English has various types
of bread while in Tobelo language has various types of cakes. The Tobelo language also
has a way of making food by smoking, as well as food that is cooked by wrapping or
putting it in banana leaves or "bulu" bamboo which is found in processed foods. The author
also finds differences in the basic ingredients of staple foods between English and Tobelo
where the staple food in English is bread "bread" which uses wheat flour as the basic
ingredient, while the staple food in Tobelo is rice and sago, whereas the basic ingredients of
Rice is rice and sago made from sago flour.

A similar study was also conducted by Sekeh (2013). The results showed that there
were similarities and differences in food terms in English and Pasan. The similarities are
solid foods which are divided into fruits, vegetables, bread and cakes, meat, fish, and
seafood, and processed foods; and beverages which are divided into alcoholic beverages
and non-alcoholic beverages. While the difference is, in English, solid foods (fruits and
vegetables) are divided into several types; while in Pasan, solid foods (fruits and
vegetables) are not divided into several types.

In addition, there are relevant studies on contrastive analysis in Javanese and

English. One of them is Wijayanto (2019) researched the similarities and differences
between the functions of imperative sentences in English and Javanese languages. The
results showed that the English have only seven functions which are command, prohibition,
invitation, request, advice, suggestion, and compulsion. While, the Javanese imperative
sentence has nine functions, which are command, prohibition, invitation, request, advice,
suggestion, compulsion, panantang, and pangece.

The researcher in this study uses a different object of research, namely using the
Javanese language, which specifically discusses the terms rice from two different
languages, namely English and Javanese.

4. Methods of the Study

4.1. Technique of Data Collection
At this stage, data on the English term rice was collected from Oxford
Learner’s Dictionaries and Javanese term rice was collected from web articles.

4.2. Technique of Data Analysis

In this study, the researcher uses a descriptive method by comparing the
differences and similarities of the term rice in the two languages. After that, explain
each term rice in Javanese and English and then conclude.

5. Finding and Discussion

This research is entitled “A Contrastive Analysis of Rice Terms in Javanese and

English”. This study emphasizes rice terms in two different languages and analyzes them
by finding similarities and differences.

5.1. Rice Terms in English

• Rice is a swamp grass that is widely cultivated as a source of food,
especially in Asia.
• Paddy, and rice before threshing or in the husk.
5.2. Rice Terms in Java
The word rice in English when parsed into Javanese can be several terms.
• The stem of the rice plant is called damen.
• The grains of rice that are still attached to the plant are called pari.
• Rays that have been harvested and released from the stems are called
gabah.
• Grain with only the skin left, aka hollow (does not produce seeds), is called
kapak.
• Grain that is still dirty mixed with an ax is called kawul.
• The name of the grain skin is merang.
• Grain that has been dried and then milled. There are several new products
from this grain mill according to the Javanese, namely: rice, namely rice
seeds
• Katul is the husk of grain (straw) that has been ground so that it becomes
smoother. Katul itself there are 2 types, katul coarse (dedak) and katul alus
(bekatul). Usually, dedak is produced if only one milling process is carried
out without repetition, whereas if it is repeated, it will produce bekatul.
• Menir, which is grain milled into rice that is too fine, or not one whole
grain.
• Las, namely rice is still mixed with some unhulled grains due to an
imperfect milling process.
• Leri, which is water from washing rice.
• Sego, namely rice that has been successfully cooked and boiled.
• Upo, a collection of rice with only a few grains left. When eating in a hurry
and there are a few grains of rice stuck to the cheek or lips, it is called upo.
• Tajin, which is boiled rice water before the rice is completely cooked.
• Intib, which is charred rice that is usually at the bottom of the rice cooker.
• Kenul, which is the layer above the peek when eaten is very soft and
chewy.
 • Karak, namely aking rice or stale rice/ leftover rice that is dried in the sun
so that it can be stored again and at another time can be re-cooked for
human consumption or a mixture of animal feed.
6. Conclusion

Based on the research results under the formulation of the problem and research
objectives regarding the description of Rice Terms in Javanese and English, it can be
concluded that there are differences in terms of the word rice in the two languages. English
only has 2 terms for rice: rice and paddy. While in the Javanese language has 19 terms from
the word rice: damen, pari, gabah, kapak, kawul, merang, katul, dedak, bekatul, menir, las,
leri, sego, upo, tajin, intip, kenul, and karak. Then there are similarities in the two
languages in the mention of the word rice, namely pari – paddy.
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