Indonesia is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world, home to 1,340 ethnic groups (BPS, 2010). Naturally, this vast diversity has given rise to an equally rich linguistic landscape, with each ethnic group contributing its own language. As of 2023, Indonesia had 720 regional languages, making it the second-most linguistically diverse country globally. Among these, Javanese—spoken by one of the largest ethnic groups—is the most widely used regional language. Amid the complexity of language, especially in its written form, one fundamental component is the script.

The Javanese script, known as Hanacaraka, carries a rich mythological origin. According to legend, it was created from the grief of Aji Saka over the loss of his two devoted servants, Dora and Sembada. Their deaths stemmed from a tragic misunderstanding: Aji Saka had sent Dora to retrieve an heirloom entrusted to Sembada, but Sembada refused to hand it over, insisting that only Aji Saka himself could reclaim it, as per his instructions. This loyalty led to a fatal conflict between the two. Based on historical estimates, Hanacaraka is considered a simplified form of the Old Javanese script, which was used during the Hindu-Buddhist period. One of its unique features lies in its resemblance to the Balinese and Lombok scripts—a similarity rooted in the deep cultural and historical connections among Java, Bali, and Lombok. These ties were especially strong during the Hindu-Buddhist and Majapahit eras. Some historical accounts even suggest that, following the fall of the Majapahit Kingdom, many residents migrated to Bali and Lombok, carrying their cultural traditions with them.

During the Dutch colonial era, the Latin alphabet was introduced into education and government administration, leading to its gradual dominance in written communication. Eventually, it was officially adopted as the standard writing system. Textbooks and government documents began to be written in Javanese using the Latin alphabet, rather than the traditional script. As global connectivity increased, the Latin alphabet was viewed as more practical for international communication, further reinforcing its use. Meanwhile, the Javanese script slowly faded from everyday life, confined mostly to cultural and ceremonial contexts—appearing in classical manuscripts, primbon (traditional Javanese mystical texts), and palace records.

In contrast, Japan maintains its writing system (kanji, hiragana, katakana). They believe that these scripts reflect culture and history. Changing the writing system also means abandoning a uniquely Japanese way of thinking and conveying meaning. For them, maintaining the Japanese script is not merely a matter of practicality—it is also about preserving national identity and a unique way of thinking that has developed over centuries. Reflecting on this, what have we lost with the shift from Javanese to Latin script? This is a matter for collective reflection. ***

1https://indonesia.go.id/profil/suku-bangsa/kebudayaan/suku-bangsa#:~:text=Indonesia%20milik%20lebih%20dari%20300, mencapai%2041%25%20dari%20total%20populasi. Accessed July 11, 2025, at 12:50 PM WIB.

2https://databoks.katadata.co.id/infografik/2023/03/28/indonesia-ranked-second-country-with-number-the-most-languages-in-the-world#:~:text=According to%20data%20Ethnologue%2C%20Papua%20New%20Ugine,which%20used%20in%20the%20Land%20of%20Air., Accessed on July 11, 2025, at 12:55 WIB.