 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (October 2024) |
| Old Javanese | |
|---|---|
| ᬚᬯ | |
| Pronunciation | [ˈʝʌ̞ʋ̟ə] |
| Native to | Indonesia |
| Region | Java, Bali, Madura, Lombok |
| Era | literary language, developed into Middle Javanese by 13th–14th century |
Austronesian
| |
| Kawi, Javanese, Balinese | |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-2 | kaw |
| ISO 639-3 | kaw |
kaw | |
| Glottolog | kawi1241 |
Old Javanese or Kawi is the oldest attested phase of the Javanese language. It was spoken in the eastern part of what is now Central Java and the whole of East Java, Indonesia. As a literary language, Kawi was used across Java and on the islands of Madura, Bali, and Lombok. It had a sizable vocabulary of Sanskrit loanwords but had not yet developed the formal krama language register, to be used with one's social superiors that is characteristic of modern Javanese.