Old Sundanese language

Old Sundanese language
Kinsbergen, Isidore van (1821-1905) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Old Sundanese
Region	West Java
Era	14th–17th centuries
Familycolor	Austronesian
Fam2	Malayo-Polynesian
Fam3	Sundanese
Script	Old Sundanese script
Iso3	osn
Glotto	olds1249
Glottorefname	Old Sundanese

Old Sundanese language. Old Sundanese is an Austronesian language historically used in the West Java region of Indonesia from approximately the 14th to the 17th centuries. It represents a classical stage of the Sundanese language and is preserved in a corpus of manuscripts and inscriptions on materials such as lontar and daluang. The study of this language became a significant focus for VOC officials and later Dutch colonial scholars, who sought to understand local traditions for purposes of administration and control, thereby embedding it within the intellectual framework of Dutch Colonization in Southeast Asia.

Historical Context and Origins

The emergence of Old Sundanese is closely tied to the rise of Hindu-Buddhist kingdoms in the Sunda Strait region, most notably the Sunda Kingdom centered in Pakuan Pajajaran. This period saw the development of a sophisticated literary and administrative culture. The language flourished as a medium for court literature, religious texts, and legal documents, reflecting a stable societal order. Its use declined following the fall of Pajajaran to the Sultanate of Banten in the late 16th century, a period of upheaval that preceded deeper European contact. The subsequent arrival of the Dutch East India Company in the early 17th century marked a pivotal shift, as colonial authorities began to encounter and systematically document this linguistic heritage.

Linguistic Features and Script

Old Sundanese is characterized by its use of a unique abugida known as the Sundanese script, which evolved from the Pallava script of South India. This writing system, inscribed on palm leaves and bark paper, exhibits distinct phonological and grammatical features setting it apart from modern Sundanese. Key texts demonstrate a rich vocabulary influenced by Sanskrit and Old Javanese, particularly in religious and philosophical domains. The structural conservatism of the language, with its complex honorifics and poetic forms, reflected the hierarchical and traditional nature of pre-colonial Sundanese society. Dutch linguists, such as those associated with the Bataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen, later analyzed these features to create grammars and dictionaries, facilitating colonial governance.

Literary and Inscriptional Corpus

The primary sources for Old Sundanese are found in a limited but significant corpus. The most renowned work is the Bujangga Manik manuscript, a poetic travel narrative that provides invaluable geographical and cultural insights. Other important texts include the Carita Parahyangan, a historical chronicle, and the Sanghyang Sasana Maha Guru, a religious treatise. These works, alongside inscriptions like the Kawali inscriptions, were often composed in kakawin metrical forms. Many of these artifacts were collected during the colonial period and are now housed in institutions like the National Library of Indonesia and the Leiden University Library, their preservation directly tied to Dutch scholarly acquisition.

Role in Colonial Administration and Study

Under the Dutch East India Company and later the Dutch East Indies government, knowledge of local languages was deemed essential for effective rule. Old Sundanese, as the classical precursor to the modern vernacular, became an object of scholarly study to comprehend local adat (customary law) and historical claims to authority. Pioneering figures like Herman Neubronner van der Tuuk and later Jacobus Noorduyn undertook the critical work of transcribing and translating Old Sundanese manuscripts. This academic pursuit, supported by entities like the Koninklijk Instituut voor Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde (KITLV), was not disinterested; it served the colonial project by mapping the intellectual and legal traditions of the Sundanese people, thereby aiding in indirect rule.

Decline and Legacy under Dutch Rule

The establishment of firm Dutch colonial control in the Priangan highlands in the 18th and 19th centuries accelerated the decline of Old Sundanese as a living literary language. Colonial policy promoted the use of Malay and later Dutch for administration and education, while Christianization efforts introduced new religious texts in modern languages. The traditional Sundanese script was largely supplanted by the Latin alphabet and Javanese script in everyday use. However, the colonial era also paradoxically ensured the language's survival; through the efforts of philologists and library collections, its corpus was preserved. This created a documented legacy that would later become crucial for nationalist movements seeking to articulate a pre-colonial cultural identity.

Modern Rediscovery and Scholarly Importance

In the post-colonial era, particularly since the late 20th century, there has been a concerted effort by Indonesian and international scholars to rediscover and re-evaluate Old Sundanese. Academics at Padjadjaran University and University of Indonesia have led projects to study and digitalize manuscripts. The language is now recognized as a vital key to understanding the history of West Java, its indigenous belief systems, and its literary aesthetics. Furthermore, it provides a critical counter-narrative to colonial historiography, emphasizing the sophistication of pre-colonial Southeast Asian societies. The ongoing scholarly work, building upon the foundations laid during the Dutch period, ensures that Old Sundanese maintains its importance in the broader study of Austronesian languages and Indonesian culture.