Old Sundanese

Old Sundanese (Sundanese script: , Old Sundanese script: , Buda script: , Roman script: ) is the earliest recorded stage of the Sundanese language which is spoken in the western part of Java, Indonesia. The evidence is recorded in inscriptions from around the 12th to 14th centuries and ancient palm-leaf manuscripts from the 15th to 17th centuries AD. Old Sundanese is no longer used today, but has developed into its descendant, modern Sundanese.

Written evidence

Old Sundanese is recorded in stone inscriptions such as the Kawali inscription in Ciamis, and the Batutulis inscription in Bogor, as well as in inscriptions made from copper plates such as the Kabantenan inscription from the Bekasi Regency. Other remains documenting the use of Old Sundanese are palm-leaf manuscripts from the Bandung, Garut, and Bogor regions. The manuscripts are now stored in several institutions, including Kabuyutan Ciburuy in Bayongbong Garut, Sri Baduga Museum in Bandung, the National Library of Indonesia in Jakarta, and the Bodleian Library in London.

Characteristics

Lexicon

The vocabulary used in Old Sundanese is still mostly recognizable for speakers modern Sundanese, either with the same meaning or having undergone a change of meaning. The use of Sanskrit which is adapted to the pronunciation or writing of the ancient Sundanese is mixed quite clearly. This is because of the nuances of the use of ancient Sundanese in Hindu and Buddhist religious texts. In some parts, the same vocabulary is often found, even combined with sentence strings in Old Javanese. In other parts, we also find the use of Old Malay vocabulary and Arabic. The lexicon of Old Sundanese has been collected in an Old Sundanese–Indonesian dictionary.

Morphology

The morphology of word formation can generally be recognized in modern Sundanese with some exclusions, for example the use of the prefix a- in the word ''awurung''. The suffix -''keun'' has a grammatical function similar to that of -''kan'' in Indonesian language. In addition, the use of insertion affixes (infix) ''-in-'' and ''-um-'' in the word ''ginawé'' (word stem ''gawé; 'to do') and ''gumanti'' (the root word ''ganti:'' 'replace') are insertions that are classified as productive used in old Sundanese, now words that include ''-in-'' and ''- um-'' is often considered monomorphemic. The following words are often not perceived as interpolated words such as ''sumebar'' which consists of ''sebar'' and ''-um-'', ''cumeluk'' which consists of ''celuk'' and ''-um-'' or ''tinangtu'' which consists of ''tangtu'' and ''-in-'' and ''pinareng'' consists of ''pareng'' and ''-in-''. The last is the use of insertion ''-ar-'' which serves to make a noun or adjective plural, for example in the word ''karolot'' (word stem ''kolot;'' 'the elders') which is still used until now.

Syntax

At the syntactic level, in general the sentence form in ancient Sundanese still has similarities with modern Sundanese. One of the features of ancient Sundanese that can be distinguished from the structure of modern Sundanese is the use of the predicate-subject pattern in the sentence structure of the ancient Sundanese language with predicates in the form of a verb (verb) and a subject in the form of a noun (noun) which is quite consistent. Another characteristic feature is the use of ma particles which can act as reinforcement for previous phrases or clauses. In sentence construction, the particle ma functions as a marker that separates the clauses, and serves to introduce new information.

Writing system

Writing systems that use the Old Sundanese language include Old Sundanese script and Buda script. These two characters can be seen from the inscriptions and ancient manuscripts stored in a place called Kabuyutan. These two characters has different functions. Old Sundanese script usually can be found on the inscriptions describing important events that occurred in the Sundanese region, while the Buda script is widely used to write things that have a high level of sacredness in lontar or gebang manuscripts.

Example usages

Inscription

The following is an example of the use of the old Sundanese language recorded in the Kawali inscription. Diplomatic transliteration was done by archaeologists Hasan Jafar & Titi Surti Nastiti.

''"nihan tapak walar nu sang hyang mulia tapa(k) inya parĕbu raja wastu mangadĕg di kuta kawali nu mahayu na kadatuan surawisesa nu marigi sakuliling dayĕh najur sakala desa aya ma nu pa(n)deuri pakĕna gawe rahayu pakĕn hĕbĕl jaya dina buana"''

Translation:

These are the traces (tapak) (in) Kawali (of) the hometown of His Majesty King Wastu (who) established the defense (reigned in) Kawali, who had beautified the Surawisesa palace, which made a defensive trench around the royal territory, which prospered the whole settlement. To those who are to come, should apply salvation as the foundation of victorious life in the world.

Old Manuscripts

The old Sundanese language used in lontar and gebang manuscripts can be distinguished based on the form of the text, namely poetry and prose.

Poetry

Some of the ancient Sundanese manuscripts that contain texts in the form of poetry include '' Sewaka Darma'', '' Carita Purnawijaya'', ''Bujangga Manik'', '' Sri Ajnyana'','''' '' Kawih Pangeuyeukan'' and '' Sanghyang Swawarcinta''. The old Sundanese language written in the form of poetry texts generally uses an eight syllable pattern, although in some texts this rule is not so strict.

: ''Pendakian Sri Ajnyana'' Text:
: "''Sakit geui ngareungeuheun''
: ''cicing hanteu dék matingtim,''
: ''usma ku raga sarira.''
: ''Béngkéng upapen rasana,''
: ''dosa a(ng)geus kanyahoan,''
: ''ngeureuy teuing gawé hala,''
: ''hanteu burung katalayahan,''
: ''Ja kini teuing rasana,''
: ''Kasasar jadi manusa.''
: ''Saurna Sri Ajnyana:''
: ''‘Adiing, ambet ka dini.''
: ''Mulah ceurik nangtung dinya.''
: ''Dini di lahunan aing.''
: ''Tuluy dirawu dipangku"''

Prose

Texts containing Sundanese in prose include ''Sanghyang Siksa Kandang Karesian'', '' Amanat Galunggung'','''' '' Sanghyang Sasana Maha Guru'', and '' Sanghyang Raga Dewata''. The following are examples of sentences used in the ''Amanat Galunggung''.''''

''"Awignam astu. Nihan tembey sakakala Rahyang Ba/n/nga, masa sya nyususk na Pakwan makangaran Rahyangta Wuwus, maka manak Maharaja Dewata, Maharaja Dewata maka manak Baduga Sanghyang, Baduga Sanghyang maka manak Prebu Sanghyang, Prebu Sanghyang maka manak Sa(ng) Lumahing rana, Sang Lumahing Rana maka manak Sa(ng) Lumahing Winduraja, Sa(ng) Lumahing Winduraja maka manak Sa(ng) Lumahing Tasikpa(n)jang, Sang Lumahing Tasik pa(n)jang (maka manak) Sa(ng) Lumahing Hujung Kembang, Sa(ng) Lumahing Hujung Kembang maka manak Rakeyan Darmasiksa."''

References

{{Sundanese language

Languages attested from the 14th century
Languages extinct in the 18th century