Get A Grip On Sundanese

Basic Lesson of Aksara Sunda

Sampurasun (Greetings!). In this occasion, I would like to deliver a course in learning Sundanese, a language that is used in West Java of Java Island, Indonesia. As one of the common knowledge among Indonesian people, especially those who live in this province, the language of Sunda has already been used since XV century. It is proofed by some evidences through ancient scripts (naskah) upon Palmyra leaves (lontar) such as Carita Parahyiangan, Sanghyang Siksakandang Karesian, Amanat dari Galunggung, etc.

In addition, there are also other written texts that are likely more well-preserved such as metal or copper and stones –that are called prasasti—found in Astana Gede Kawali (Ciamis), and Piagem Kabantenan (Banten). Most of the texts are written in Old Sundanese letters (Sunda Buhun or Sunda Kuna).

Just for notification that the letters of Old Sundanese are derived from Pallawa or Pra-Nagari to write Sanskrit in the fifth to eight centuries. Therefore, the letters that I will give in further basically are old-new ones that in some case have their own modification over modern characters based on Unicode standardization of encoding script at Barkeley.   

However, it lessens no essence in learning the language/letters as one of the legacies of the ancestor. In fact, there are some benefits upon the modification of the letters. For an example, one can use the letters within the current language that one uses. This makes an acculturation between the old letters and modern languages these days. Furthermore, despite of artistic consideration of style, I subjectively choose the letters (Ngalagena) rather than the modern one. 

OK. Let’s start to get acquainted with the alphabet of Sundanese letters.


1. Vowel Letters (Aksara Sora), consist of seven letters:

Note:

It is different from modern language in which vowel consists of five phonetics (a, i, u, e, o). In Sundanese language, there are two other vowels that are ‘e’ and ‘eu’. Note that the sound ‘e’ is different from ‘é’ which is the same with the modern one without acute (′).

é as in get /get/

e as in ago /ə`gəυ/ ( ə with short sound)

eu  as in hurt /hз:t/ (without the sound ‘r’ and with long sound rather than ‘e’)

2. Ngalagena Letters (Aksara Ngalagena or consonant), consists of 23:

Note: It supposes that the arrangement of the letter is ka-ga-nga-ca-ja-nya-ta-da-nya and so on. But, considering the easy way in learning and remembering the letters, I intentionally make the arrangement like the one above. Take a look closer to how the letters in each line presents its similarities.

3.  Rarangkén (vocalization), consist of 13 forms:

Note:

Those above are the basic letters of Aksara Sunda that consist of Aksara Sora (vocal), Aksara Ngalagena (consonant), and Rarangkén (vocalization). Henceforth, we will deal with how the Rarangkén modifies Aksara Ngalagena in creating new form of letter.

As what has shown in the third table, some of the Rarangken occupy a certain place in modifying Aksara Sora, namely: (1) above, (2) under, (3) slightly parallel (in front of and behind) of Ngalagena.

A. Rarangkén(s) occupies above Aksara Sora (Ngalagena).

1. Panghulu 

This rarangkén is used to change the vocal sound of the main letter from /a/ to /i/.

Example: The word na becomes ni after applying this panghulu.

2. Pamepet

This one is used to change the vowel sound from /a/ to /e/.

Example: The word na becomes ne.

3. Paneuleung

This one is used to change the vowel from /a/ to /eu/.

Example: The word na becomes neu.

4. Panglayar

This one is used to add the consonant /+r/ in the end of main letter.

Example: The word na becomes nar.

 

5. Panyecek

This one is used to add the consonant /+ng/ in the end of main letter.

Example: The word na becomes nang.

B. Rarangkén(s) occupies under Aksara Sora (Ngalagena).

1. Panyuku

This rarangkén is used to change the vowel sound of the main letter from /a/ to /u/. 
        Example: The word na becomes nu.

2. Panyakra

This rarangkén is used to add /+ra/ in Ngalagena. Please pay attention to its difference from Panglayar. 
        Example: The word na becomes nra.

3. Panyiku

This rarengkén is used to add /+la/ in Ngalagena. It is the same with Panyakra where it can be combined with other Rarengkén such asa Panghulu, Pamepet, etc. 
        Example: The word na becomes nla.

C. Rarangkén(s) occupies parallel (in front of and behind) of Ngalagena.

1. Panéléng

This rarengkén is used to change the vowel sound of the main letter from /a/ to /é/. Watch out! Surely, it is different from Pamepet: there’s an acute (´) in this rarengkén.

           Example: The word na becomes né.

 

2. Panolong

This rarengkén is used to change the vowel sound of Ngalagena becomes /o/. Once again, be careful! It is almost the same with Panéléng but actually not.

           Example: The word na becomes no.

c. Pamingkal

This rarengkén is used to add the sound /+ya/ in main letter of Ngalagena.

        Example: The word na becomes nya.

Note: This was only example of modification. Surely, you can use the proper Ngalagena of /nya/ as shown in the table above.

d. Pangwisad

This rarengkén is used to add the sound /+h/ in main letter of   
          Ngalagena.

          Example: The word na becomes nah.

e. Pamaéh or The Killer

This rarengkén is used to omit the vowel sound of Ngalagena. Surely, most of Pamaéh appears in the end of letter of a word.

         Example: The word na becomes n.

D. The Double Rarengkén.

It is the case in which the main letter of Ngalagena applies more than one Rarengkén.

Example: The word na becomes nur by using Panyuku and Panglayar.

 

5. However, there are only three Rarengkén(s) that occupy a modification along Aksara Sora (Vocal) i.e. Panglayar, Panyecek, and Pangwisad.

Example: The vocal a becomes ar, ang, and ah. So do with other Aksara Sora (Vocal).

That’s all the basic lesson of Aksara Sunda. In the next part, we will learn about how to write Aksara Sunda and recognize some of Sundanese words, and how to spell them down. Mangga! (See you later!) [FN]