The Linguistics of Faith: Understanding the Human-God Relationship in Javanese and Arabic Expressions

  • Hendrokumoro Department of Languages and Literatures, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2503-3194
  • Arief Budiman Intercultural Department, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4846-8270
  • Imam Wicaksono Department of Languages and Literatures, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281 https://orcid.org/0009-0008-5991-4794
  • Nadia Khumairo Ma'shumah Department of Languages and Literatures, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0722-1001
  • Vina Hidayah Department of Languages and Literatures, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281
https://doi.org/10.19105/ojbs.v19i1.18432
Abstract views: 66 , PDF downloads: 44
Keywords: Arabic, Human-God relationship, Javanese, Linguistic representation, Religious expressions

Abstract

Language functions not only as a means of communication, but also as a medium that represents a society's worldview and spiritual values. Within this context, religious expressions in Javanese and Arabic reflect the ways in which societies perceive the relationship between humans and God. This study examines the similarities in linguistic representation and philosophical meaning in these expressions. This study used a mixed-methods approach, integrating qualitative linguistic and hermeneutic analyses with descriptive quantitative analysis. The research data consisted of 39 expressions related to divine attributes, which portrayed the relationship between humans and God, gathered from written Javanese texts and verses from the Qur’an and Arabic wisdom expressions. The data were obtained through documentation technique and analyzed by identifying the lexemes, syntactic structures, and the philosophical meanings reflected in the expressions. The findings reveal those expressions in both languages indicate four underlying philosophical meanings: reverence, submission, devotion, and humility. These meanings are reflected in the occurrence of identical or synonymous lexicons and in the syntactic structures of both languages. Findings of this study demonstrate conceptual harmony in interpreting the vertical relationship between humans and God, which also illustrates the historical and cultural interaction between Javanese traditions and Islamic teachings. This study provides a contribution to linguistic and hermeneutic studies, particularly in understanding language as a medium that represents the religious values and philosophical views of society.

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Author Biographies

Hendrokumoro, Department of Languages and Literatures, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281

HENDROKUMORO is a professor of linguistics at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Indonesia. His research focuses on historical-comparative linguistics, dialectology, Javanese linguistics, and Javanese culture and identity.

Arief Budiman, Intercultural Department, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281

ARIEF BUDIMAN works as a lecturer in the Arabic Literature Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia. His research focuses on comparative religion, Middle Eastern studies, Arab culture, and Arabic Translation.

Imam Wicaksono, Department of Languages and Literatures, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281

IMAM WICAKSONO serves as a lecturer in the Arabic Literature Program, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia. His research focuses on Arabic literature, Middle Eastern studies, and the sociology of literature.

Nadia Khumairo Ma'shumah, Department of Languages and Literatures, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281

NADIA KHUMAIRO MA’SHUMAH is a junior researcher at Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia. Her research focuses on translation studies, literary translation, cognitive linguistics, and critical discourse analysis, with an emphasis on the interplay between language, identity, and culture.

Vina Hidayah, Department of Languages and Literatures, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281

VINA HIDAYAH holds a Master’s degree in Linguistics from Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia. Her research focuses on Arabic linguistics, descriptive linguistics, and Arabic language studies.

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Published
2025-05-31
How to Cite
Hendrokumoro, Budiman, A., Wicaksono, I., Ma’shumah, N. K., & Hidayah, V. (2025). The Linguistics of Faith: Understanding the Human-God Relationship in Javanese and Arabic Expressions. OKARA: Jurnal Bahasa Dan Sastra, 19(1), 163–180. https://doi.org/10.19105/ojbs.v19i1.18432
Issue
Vol. 19 No. 1 (2025): OKARA: Jurnal Bahasa dan Sastra
Section
Articles

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