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e-ISSN:
2686-5009
Differences and Similarities of Phonemes Between Sundanese and
Indonesian
Tiara Permatasari
Universitas Indraprasta PGRI
tpermatasari20@gmail.com

Irwan Siagian
Universitas Indraprasta PGRI
irwan.siagian60@gmail.com

Abstract
The use of regional languages is a language that was used earlier than Indonesian. There is a
science of phonology that studies the distribution of phonemes which are divided into vowels
and consonants. In learning phonemes, studying the vocabulary of the phoneme sounds. This
study aims to determine the basic differences and similarities of phonemes in Indonesian and
Sundanese. This research is a research with qualitative method. The results of the study were
obtained from interviews and linked to literature study sources obtained from the internet. The
results of this study indicate that there are differences in vowel and consonant phonemes between
Indonesian and Sundanese. In Sundanese there is an additional phoneme /é/ apart from the five
vowel phonemes in Indonesian. In addition, there are differences in consonant phonemes which
in Sundanese only consist of 18 phonemes while in Indonesian it consists of 21 consonant
phonemes.
Keywords: phonemes, Indonesian, Sundanese, vowels, consonants

INTRODUCTION

Regional languages in Indonesia have an influence in the formation and development

of the Indonesian language. Before getting to know Indonesian, most Indonesians studied and
used regional languages in the interaction of people's lives. Speech and the way of conveying
the customary ideas commonly used by the community. Regional languages are maintained
by the state as part of a living culture. Indonesian is the second language while the first
language is the mother tongue, namely regional languages, such as Javanese, Sundanese,
Acehnese, Batak, Minangkabau, Balinese and many more. In reality, regional languages are
very important in the development and growth of the Indonesian language we use. Second
language learning is often faced with difficulties posed by the learner's assumptions carried
over from the first language or mother tongue. This can be made easy by contrasting the first
language or mother tongue with the second language so that it can be illustrated what can
hinder the learning of a second language (Faznur and Nurhamidah, 2020).
Some terms in phonetic development are phonemes, phonetics, phonemics, and
phonology. Field phonology is linguistics that studies, analyzes, and discusses the sequence
of language sounds. The origin of the word phonology etymologically consists of a
combination of the words fon (meaning sound) and logi (meaning knowledge) (Chaer, 2007).
The origin of the word phonology consists of a combination of the words fon (which means
sound) and logi (which means science). Other terms related to phonology include phonemes,
phonemes, vowels, and consonants. Phonetics and phonemics are part of phonology.
Phonetics is a part of phonology that studies how to produce sounds or sounds of language
produced by the human speech apparatus. Phonemics is the part of phonology that studies
speech sounds according to their function as meaning discriminators. Phonetic knowledge
does not develop alone from other aspects of knowledge but develops simultaneously with
aspects of semantic, syntactic, morphemic, and pragmatic knowledge (Christianti, 2015)
 https://doi.org/10.37010/lit.v4i1.684

RESEARCH METHODE
Vol. 4, No. 1, The research method used for writing this article is a qualitative method with an
April 2022, interview approach and literature study. Walidin, Saifullah, and Tabrani (2015 through
pp. 130-134 Fadli, 2021) explained that qualitative research is a research process used to describe and
understand a phenomenon in order to create scientific results. In this study, the authors
conducted interviews with Sundanese speakers, namely Raisa Alifya, a student of
Padjadjaran University who is a native Sundanese. The results of the interviews were then
e-ISSN: combined with sources of literature studies related to the topic of the article discussion.
2686-5009
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Previous research conducted by Lutfi Syauki Faznur and Dinah Nurhamidah in

2020 with the title "Comparison of Sundanese and Indonesian Phonemes in Textbooks".
Differences and The problem discussed in this research is to examine the comparison of phonology in
Similarities of Sundanese and Indonesian. The research method used is descriptive qualitative. While the
Phonemes data analysis technique used is flow analysis. The conclusions of this research by Lutfi
Between Syauki Faznur and Dinah Nurhamidah (2020) are:
Sundanese and 1. The phonemes in Sundanese have seven vowels.
Indonesian Meanwhile, in Indonesian there are five vowels.
2. There are eighteen consonants in Sundanese. Meanwhile, in Indonesian there are twenty-
one consonants.
This research has similarities with the research conducted by Lutfi Syauki Faznur
and Dinah Nurhamidah (2020). From the results of interviews conducted by sources, it is
said that the phonemes in Indonesian and Sundanese have not very significant differences.
There are several letters in Indonesian that are not included in the Sundanese phoneme, for
example, the letters /q/, /f/, and /v/. Sources say that the absence of this phoneme is
influenced by the history of the Sundanese people themselves.
The source added that Sundanese has many diphthongs compared to Indonesian,
such as the /eu/ diphthong which is not found in the Indonesian equivalent. Sundanese also
Tiara uses a combination of consonants more often than Indonesian. Sources said that the
Permatasari, combined use of these consonants will affect the dialect of Sundanese language users.
Irwan Siagian
Indonesian Phonemes

Table 1. Vowels in Indonesian

Distribution
Phoneme
Beginning Middle End
/a/ Apel Mengapa Mana
/i/ Induk Takbir Iri
/u/ Udang Simpul Pulau
/e/ Enak Ember Sate
/o/ Obat Motor Toko
/a/ Apel Mengapa Mana

In Indonesian, there are five vowels, namely, /a/, /i/, /u/, /e/, and /o/. These five
vowels can be combined into several diphthongs, such as /ai/, /au/, and /oi/ (PUEBI, 2015).
Some examples of the use of diphthongs in Indonesian words are:
1. /ai/ = /ai/r
2. /au/ = /au/dio
3. /oi/ = kob/oi/

Consonant

Table 2. Consonants in Indonesian

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 Distribution
Phoneme
Beginning Middle End
/b/ Bebek Babi Adab
/c/ Cinta Kaca -
LITERATUS is a
/d/ Daun Mudik Abad
journal published
/f/ Fonem Xerofit Adiktif
/g/ Garam Gagu Anting by Neolectura,
/h/ Hantu Tahan Marah issued two times
/j/ Jarak Janji Bajaj in one year.
/k/ Kereta Kaki Berisik Literatus is a
/l/ Limun Malas Adil scientific
/m/ Mati Rambu Malam publication
/n/ Naik Nenek Badan media in the
/p/ Pintu Tapa Sup form of
/q/ Quran - - conceptual paper
/r/ Ratu Sore Sayur and field
/s/ Santai Sisir Alas research related
/t/ Tali Pantai Balut to social impact
/v/ Voting Provinsi Molotov and cultural
/w/ Walau Bawa - studies. It is
/x/ Xilem - Pertamax
hoped that
/y/ Yatim Yoyo Baduy
LITERATUS can
/z/ Zaman - Lafaz
become a media
for academics
Indonesian has twenty one consonant phonemes. There are several divisions of and researchers
combining consonants into a unit, namely /ny/, /ng/, /kh/, and /sy (PUEBI, 2015). As for to publish their
some examples of words from each consonant combination are: scientific work
1. /ny/ = /ny/a/ny/i and become a
2. /ng/ = Bandung/ng/ reference source
for the
3. /kh/ = /kh/intestine
development of
4. /sy/ = /sy/air science and
knowledge.
Sundanese Phonemes

Table 3. Sundanese Vowel Letters

Distribution
Phoneme Our focus:
Beginning Middle End
/a/ Aya Bapak Kamana Social and
/i/ Itik Hiji Culture
/u/ Uyah Udud Sapu
/e/ Elod Genteng Bade
/o/ Odading Moal Ogo
/é/ Éma Genténg Engké Our Scope:
/eu/ Eureun Meureun Bieu Humanities,
Education,
There are seven vowels in Sundanese, namely /a/, /i/, /u/, /e/, /o/, /é/ and /eu/ Management,
(Muller Gotama and Franz, 2001). The vowels contained in Sundanese are slightly History,
Economics,
different from Indonesian. There is a phoneme /é/ with a different pronunciation than the Linguistics,
letter /e/. In Sundanese, sometimes the phoneme /e/ is found at the end of words but usually Literature,
the resulting sound changes to /eu/ (Robins, 1983). Religion,
Politics,
Consonant Sociology,
Anthropology,
and others.
Table 4. Consonant Letters in Sundanese
Distribution
Phoneme
Beginning Middle End
/b/ Badag Loba Sabab
/c/ Cai Cakcak -
/d/ Dadas Dandan Buleud
/g/ Goréng Jagjag Baledog
/h/ Hampura Dahar Kadeudeuh

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 https://doi.org/10.37010/lit.v4i1.684

/j/ Jelema Kahiji Kai

/k/ Kabaya Wewengkon Rék
Vol. 4, No. 1, /l/ Leuleus Lila Baal
/m/ Murag Sama Caheum
April 2022, /n/ Nangtung Wangsul Kajeun
pp. 130-134 /ny/ Nyacas Monyong
/ng/ Ngala Tangkal Beuteung
/p/ Pondok Samping Cekap
/r/ Réa Kabeneran Cengir
/s/ Sabab Desa Gebis
e-ISSN: /t/ Tunduh Antos Kalibet
2686-5009 /w/ Waka Béwara Cewaw
/y/ Yuswa Hayu Kalakay
/b/ Badag Loba Sabab
/c/ Cai Cakcak -
/d/ Dadas Dandan Buleud

Consonant phonemes in Sundanese only consist of eighteen phonemes. There are

Differences and several consonant phonemes in Indonesian that are not found in Sundanese, namely the
Similarities of letters /f/, /v/, /x/, and /z/. This is because Sundanese does not absorb the four phonemes
Phonemes (Hasan Alwi, 1993).
Between
Sundanese and
Indonesian CONCLUSION

The vowel phonemes in Indonesian and Sundanese differ in the addition of the
vowel /é/ in Sundanese. Other vowel phonemes are still fairly similar in general between
Indonesian and Sundanese. Consonant phonemes in Indonesian have 21 phonemes while in
Sundanese there are only 18 phonemes. There are several phonemes that are not used in
Sundanese, namely the phonemes /f/, /v/, /x/, and /z/, while these phonemes are still used in
Indonesian although the use of phonemes in both the initial and final positions is still limited.
Its usage. There is a consonant phoneme /c/ which is not found to have a final distribution
position in both languages.
Tiara
Permatasari, BIBLIOGRAPHY
Irwan Siagian
Alwi, H. (1993). Tata Bahasa Acuan Bahasa Sunda. Jakarta: Kepala Pusat Pembinaan dan
Pengembangan Bahasa.
Chaer, A. (2007). Linguistik Umum. Jakarta: Rineka Cipta.
Christianti, M. (2015). Kajian Literatur Perkembangan Pengetahuan Fonetik Pada Anak
Usia Dini. Jurnal Pendidikan Anak (4) 1.
Faznur, L. S. & Nurhamidah, D. (2020). Komparasi Fonem Bahasa Sunda dan Bahasa
Indonesia Dalam Buku Teks. Pena Literasi.
Fadli, M. R. (2021). Memahami desain metode penelitian kualitatif. Humanika (21) 1.
Muller, Gotama, Franz. (2001). Sundanese Laguages Of The Word Material. 369.
Robins, r.h. 1983. Sistem dan Struktur Bahasa Sunda. Jakarta: IKAPI.
Pedoman Umum Ejaan Bahasa Indonesia. (2015).

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 LITERATUS is a
journal published
by Neolectura,
issued two times
in one year.
Literatus is a
scientific
publication
media in the
form of
conceptual paper
and field
research related
to social impact
and cultural
studies. It is
hoped that
LITERATUS can
become a media
for academics
and researchers
to publish their
scientific work
and become a
reference source
for the
development of
science and
knowledge.

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