Indonesian Arabic

Indonesian Arabic
Local Arabic
Bahasa Arab Indonesia العربية الاندونيسية
Arabic speakers in Talise, Palu c. 1920
Native to	Indonesia
Region	Area with a significant population of Arabs descent and pesantren
Ethnicity	Arab Indonesians Santri (formal)
Native speakers	60,000 (2010)[1]
Language family	Afro-Asiatic Semitic West Semitic Central Semitic Arabic Peninsular Yemeni Hadhrami Arabic Indonesian Arabic
Dialects	Arabic-Javanese of Klego[2] Gontor Arabic[3] Martapura Arabic[4]
Writing system	Arabic script
Language codes
ISO 639-3	–
Glottolog	None
The location of Indonesian Arabic usage in the enclave is marked with a blue circle; it is primarily found in the eastern part of Java
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Indonesian Arabic (Arabic: العربية الاندونيسية, romanized: al-‘Arabiyya al-Indūnīsiyya, Indonesian: Bahasa Arab Indonesia) is a variety of Arabic spoken in Indonesia. It is primarily spoken by people of Arab descents and by students (santri) who study Arabic at Islamic educational institutions or pesantren. This language generally incorporates loanwords from regional Indonesian languages in its usage, reflecting the areas where it is spoken.

From a historical perspective, Arabic language and culture have been known since the introduction of Islam to the Malay Archipelago, which means that long before Indonesia's independence, Arabic was already becoming familiar to the indigenous peoples. When examining the relationship between Arabic and Islam in Indonesia, it is clear that Arabic culture and language have had a significant influence on the life of the society and the culture of Islam Nusantara (Indonesian Islam). For example, in terms of the language used daily by the people, Arabic is one of the foreign elements that has contributed a substantial amount of vocabulary to the native languages in Indonesia, including standard Indonesian, the official language of Indonesia.^[5] The development of the Arabic occurred due to the arrival of Arab and Persian traders in Indonesia over a long period. It is known that Arabic language and literature are estimated to have been present in Indonesia since the early 7th to 8th centuries AD and began to develop rapidly during the 9th to 12th centuries AD. This theory is supported and agreed upon by Hamka, van Leur, and T.W. Arnold.^[5]

The Arabic spoken in Indonesia is generally used by people of Arabs descent and Islamic students (santri), primarily based on Hadhrami Arabic brought by Arab traders from Hadramaut, Yemen. This language has a unique feature, which is the mixture of vocabulary from Arabic and Indonesian, as well as other regional languages.^[6][7] This is notably different from the Modern Standard Arabic used by 21st-century Arab expatriates. The language is commonly used in Islamic educational institutions or pesantren and in villages inhabited by people of Arabs descent, often referred to as Kampung Arab 'Arab village'.^[8][9]

Arabic in Indonesia is generally spoken by Arab descendants in Bogor (Empang and Cisarua), Surabaya (Ampel), Bangkalan (Kamal), Jakarta, Gresik, Pekalongan, Kediri, Pasuruan (Bangil), Bondowoso, Banjarmasin, Surakarta, Palembang, Palu (Talise), Ambon, Martapura, and other areas with a significant Arab-descendant population in Indonesia.^[10][4] Even the Arab descendants and their language are also found in Fakfak, a small town on the west coast of Papua, the easternmost island of Indonesia, their presence there can be traced back to the 1800s, where their Arabic surnames became their trademark.^[11]

The number of speakers is currently approximately half of the Arab descendants, or perhaps even less. This number does not include the santri who use it as a formal language. Based on rough estimates, this language had about 60,000 speakers in 2010. Rather than maintaining their Arabic language, younger generations typically prefer to use Malay-based creole languages, where they actually play a significant role in contributing Arabic vocabulary, but it is then adapted to local pronunciation. A prominent example is Betawi, where the majority of Arab descendants in urban Jakarta currently use this language.^[12] Indonesian Arabic also has a big influence on the Condet dialect, a dialect of Betawi language, where Arabic vocabulary is mostly found, more pronounced than other Betawi dialects. Also with some Malay influence.^[13][14] Arabic-Malay script (Jawi) was also quite often used by the indigenous people of Condet in East Jakarta, especially during the Dutch colonial era.^[15]

Because of its influence on the native languages in the areas where it is used and its considerable influence on the official language, Indonesian, also because of the fluent assimilation of its speakers since long ago.^[16] Indonesian Arabic began to mix with native languages in Indonesia to form Para-Arabic or Pseudo-Arabic varieties, because the grammar mostly deviates from Arabic rules and looks very small, but its influence can be seen especially in terms of the vocabulary used, especially also mixed with the native languages that are more dominant in the region. This code mixing then formed a mixed language used by groups of Arab descendants who assimilated with the indigenous peoples.^[17] One of them is Colloquial Arabic-Javanese which is used by the Klego villagers in Pekalongan, also called Arabic-Javanese of Klego, which is a mixture of Arabic vocabulary with influences from Javanese grammar and a broader vocabulary. Where his contribution to the heterogeneous Klego peoples influenced social harmony between the Arabs and native Javanese, there is no element of forcing language, culture, and tradition between them. Each can accept their own culture, even for those of Arab descent, they have blended into Javanese traditions and customs which are mixed with Arabic influences. This language is not only used by Arab descendants in Klego, but also by the native Javanese there.^[2][18]

There are two varieties of Arabic that are usually used in Indonesia, namely Amiyah or colloquial Arabic, especially by Arab descendants in Indonesia in daily communication among their communities.^[19] Also Fusha, which is standard Arabic which is usually used by students in formal activities at Islamic boarding schools, or also by Arab descendants, for example in their worship or formal activities.^[20][21] From the results of the acculturation between Arabic of Fusha and Amiyah, as well as their everyday language, at the Darussalam Gontor Modern Islamic Boarding School, have created their own Gontor Arabic dialect which is used by the students there.^[3] Apart from that, there is also the Martapura Arabic dialect which is used by Arab descendants in Martapura, South Kalimantan. It is heavily influenced by the Banjar language in its language, especially its loanwords and pronunciation, and is also influenced by Indonesian.^[4]

It has been revealed that the use of Arabic is significantly influenced by syntax in Indonesian, particularly among santri in pesantren. Phrases such as lâ mâdza-mâdza (لا ماذا ماذا, meaning 'it's okay') or maujûd-maujûd faqath (موجود موجود فقط, meaning 'seriously') are examples of syntactic pronunciation errors in Arabic among santri that result in word reduplication. In reality, when looked at word by word in Indonesian, these examples are not incorrect, but when combined, they become less accurate and hard to understand, and they cannot be found in other varieties of Arabic, as these expressions do not exist in their language. The correct expression in Modern Standard Arabic for 'it's okay' is lâ ba’sa (لا بأس) or laisa musykilah (ليس مشكلة). Meanwhile, the expression 'just there' essentially responds to something considered a joke or something unusual, and it can be translated into Modern Standard Arabic as laqad mazahta (لقد مزحت, meaning 'you are just joking') or hâdzaâ sya’un jadîd (هذا شيء جديد, meaning 'this is something new').^[22]

The inaccuracy in using expressions like these in this variation of Arabic is certainly influenced by Indonesian, or more precisely, by colloquial Indonesian. Another possible cause could be a lack of understanding of Arabic rules and knowledge about them, or it could be because such expressions have become common in forming Arabic sentences among santri. Native speakers of other Arabic varieties might consider or view this as Arabic with poor pronunciation and grammar.^[22] This also includes, for example, changes in pronunciation and sound in Arabic vocabulary that are adapted to local pronunciation in Indonesia, as in the case of Colloquial Arabic-Javanese.^[2]

Arabic is recognized as a foreign and minority language in Indonesia, without the status of an official or regional language.^[23][24] But it remains an important language in Indonesia, especially by Indonesian Muslims there, where Arabic is considered as one of their religious language used in prayers and recitation of the Quran.^[25] The position of Arabic is also considered important for the Indonesian government, especially in relation to diplomacy with foreign countries, especially Arabic-speaking countries. Arabic also played an important role in diplomacy between Indonesia and Egypt, especially in the early period of Indonesian independence and Egypt's support for it. Mastery of Arabic, especially by accomplished diplomats such as Agus Salim, was key to building close diplomatic relations and gaining international support.^[26]

Ferguson (1970) in The Role of Arabic in Ethiopia: a Sociolinguistic Perspective explains that the area where Arabic is used includes Morocco in the west to the Persian Gulf, across the Red Sea to Ethiopia and Somalia in the Horn of Africa, then to the Gujarat in India and a small part of Xinjiang in China, up to the Southeast Asian region including Indonesia. In Indonesia, based on its geographical varieties, Arabic is grouped into:^[27]

• North Coast of Java – including Tuban, Gresik, Semarang, Pekalongan, Tegal, Cirebon, which is influenced by Javanese, then Tanjung Priok (also includes Pekojan and Condet) which is influenced by Betawi, and Ampel which is influenced by Javanese and Madurese.
• East Coast of Java (Tapal Kuda) – Bangil and Situbondo, which are heavily influenced by Javanese and Madurese.
• Interior of East Java – Malang and Jember, is heavily influenced by Javanese, also to a certain extent by Madurese influence, especially in Jember.
• Interior of Central Java – Bumiayu, Surakarta, and Yogyakarta, which are influenced by Javanese, However, in Surakarta and Yogyakarta it is very influenced by standard Javanese, unlike in Bumiayu which is influenced by the Banyumasan dialect.

Other varieties also cover areas outside Java, such as in Sumatra, the Palembang variety, which is influenced by Palembang Malay.^[28] Also the regional Banjar-speaking variety in Kalimantan, especially in Banjarmasin and Martapura.^[4] Apart from that, other geographical variations were also found, such as Bangkalan to Sumenep with Madurese influences, as well as the Kangean variety with Kangean, Bugis, and Madurese influences.^[27][29] Also the Empang and Cisarua varieties in Bogor which are influenced by Sundanese.^[30]

• Varieties of Arabic
• Arab Indonesians
• Hadhrami Arabic
• Arabic-Javanese of Klego

• Kamus Bahasa Arab : Arab – Indonesia – Indonesia – Arab

• v
• t
• e

Languages of Indonesia

Western Malayo-Polynesian languages

Official language Indonesian Slang Malayo-Sumbawan Acehnese Bakongan Anambas-Natuna Malay Bacan Malay Balinese Bali Aga Nusa Penida Bamayo Bangka Malay Banjarese Batubara Malay Belitung Malay Bengkulu Berau Malay Besemah Bukit Col/Lembak Deli Malay Duano' Enim Haji Iban Mualang Seberuang Jambi Malay Jaring Halus Malay Kangean Kapuas Hulu Malay Kaur Kayong Malay Kendayan Keninjal Kerinci Ketapang Malay Kotawaringin Malay Kualuh Malay Kubu Kutainese Kota Bangun Tenggarong Landak Malay Langkat Malay Loncong Lubu Madurese Bawean Sapudi Minangkabau Jamee Kampar Kuantan Mukomuko Pesisir Melawi Malay Mempawah Malay Musi Lematang Palembang Penesak Penukal Rawas Ogan Palu Malay Panai Malay Pekal Pontianak Malay Riau Malay Coastal Riau Pangaraian Rokan Hilir Siak Tembilahan Sambas Malay Sanggau Malay Sasak Sekadau Malay Serdang Malay Semende Sintang Malay Sumbawa Sundanese Baduy Bantenese Brebes Priangan Tamiang Malay Javanesic Javanese Arekan Banyumasan Cirebonese Indramayu Osing Serang Tenggerese Kawi Celebic Andio Bada Bahonsuai Balaesang Balantak Banggai Batui Behoa Boano Bobongko Bonerate Bungku Busoa Cia-Cia Dampelas Dondo Kalao Kaili Kaimbulawa Kamaru Kodeoha Kulisusu Kumbewaha Lasalimu Laiyolo Lauje Liabuku Mbelala Moronene Mori Bawah Mori Atas Moma Muna Napu Padoe Pancana Pendau Rahambuu Rampi Saluan Sarudu Sedoa Pamona Taje Tajio Tukang Besi Tolaki Tomadino Topoiyo Tomini Totoli Uma Waru Wawonii Wolio Wotu Lampungic Komering Kayuagung Lampung Northwest Sumatra– Barrier Islands Batak Alas Angkola Dairi Karo Mandailing Simalungun Toba Enggano Gayo Mentawai Nias Simeulue Sikule South Sulawesi Aralle-Tabulahan Bambam Bentong Budong-Budong Buginese Campalagian Coastal Konjo Dakka Duri Embaloh Enrekang Highland Konjo Kalumpang Lemolang Maiwa Makassarese Malimpung Mamasa Mamuju Mandar Panasuan Pannei Selayar Seko Padang Seko Tengah Tae’ Talondo’ Taman Toraja-Sa’dan Ulumanda’ Barito Ampanang Bakumpai Bajaw Deyah Kohin Lawangan Ma'anyan Malang Ngaju Ot Danum Sama Ot Siang Tunjung Witu Pakau Kayan–Murik Aoheng Aput Bahau Hovongan Kayan Krio Modang Punan Merah Segai Land Dayak Bakati’ Biatah Bukar Sadong Jangkang Kembayan Laraʼ Nyadu’ Rejangese Ribun Sanggau Sara Semandang Beginci Gerai Tringgus North Bornean Bah-Biau Basap Bukat Bukitan Kelabit Kenyah Mainstream Lengilu Lun Bawang Murut Okolod Selungai Sembakung Tagol Punan Merap Punan Tubu Sa'ban Sajau Tidung Burusu Kalabakan Nonukan Philippine languages Central Philippine Tausug Gorontalo-Mongondow Bintauna Bolango Buol Gorontaloan Kaidipang Lolak Mongondow Ponosakan Suwawa Minahasan Tombulu Tondano Tonsawang Tonsea Tontemboan Sangiric Bantik Ratahan Sangir Talaud

Central–Eastern Malayo-Polynesian languages

Aru Barakai Batuley Dobel Karey Koba Kola-Kompane Lola Lorang Manombai Mariri Tarangan Ujir Central Maluku Alune Amahai Ambelau Asilulu Banda Bati Benggoi Boano Bobot Buru Geser Haruku Hulaliu Kailolo Pelauw Rohomoni-Kabauw Hitu Hoti † Huaulu Hukumina † Hulung † Kaibobo Kamarian † Kayeli Kowiai Laha Larike-Wakasihu Latu Liana-Seti Lisabata-Nuniali Lisela Loun † Luhu Mangole Manipa Manusela Masiwang Naka'ela Nuaulu Nusa Laut Paulohi Salas Saleman Saparua Seit-Kaitetu Sepa-Teluti Sula Taliabo Teor-Kur Tulehu Watubela Wemale Yalahatan Flores–Lembata Alorese Kedang Lamaholot Adonara Ile Ape Lamalera Lamatuka Levuka Lewo Eleng Lewotobi South Lembata West Lembata Sika Halmahera- Cenderawasih Ambai Ambel Ansus Arguni As Bedoanas Biak Biga Buli Busami Dusner Erokwanas Gane Irarutu Iresim Kuri Kurudu Maba Maden Matbat Ma'ya Munggui Marau Meoswar Mor Papuma Patani Pom Roon Sawai Serui-Laut Taba Tandia Wabo Wamesa Wandamen Waropen Woi Yaur Yeretuar Yeresiam Kei-Tanimbar Fordata Kei Onin Sekar Uruangnirin Yamdena Micronesian Mapia † Selaru Selaru Seluwasan Sumba–Flores Anakalangu Baliledo Bima Dhao Ende Gaura Hawu Kambera Kéo Kodi Komodo Lamboya Lio Mamboru Manggarai Nage Ngadha Palu'e Pondok Rajong Rembong Riung Rongga So'a Kepo' Wae Rana Wanukaka Wejewa Timor–Babar Amarasi Bekais Bilba Dai Dawera-Daweloor Dela-Oenale Dengka East Damar Emplawas Galoli Helong Imroing Kemak Kisar Leti Lole Luang Masela Nila North Babar Ringgou Romang Serili Serua Southeast Babar Tela'a Termanu Tetum Te'un Tii Uab Meto West Damar Welaun Wetar Western Oceanic Anus Bonggo Kayupulau Liki Masimasi Ormu Podena Kaptiau Sobei Tarpia Tobati Wakde Yamna

Papuan languages

North Halmahera Galela Gamkonora Kao Loloda Modole Pagu Sahu Tabaru Ternate Tidore Tobelo Togutil Waioli West Makian Timor–Alor–Pantar Abui Adang Blagar Bunak Kaera Kafoa Kamang Klon Kui Kula Nedebang Oirata Retta Sawila Teiwa Wersing Western Pantar Woisika Asmat–Mombum Buruwai Casuarina Coast Asmat Central Asmat North Asmat Citak Mombum Kamberau Kamoro Koneraw Sempan West Bird's Head Kalabra Kuwani Moi Moraid Seget Tehit South Bird's Head Arandai Dombano Duriankari Inanwatan Kaburi Kais Kemberano Kokoda Konda Kovojab Puragi Yahadian East Bird's Head Hatam Mansim Meyah Moskona Sougb West Bomberai Baham Iha Karas Dani Grand Valley Dani Hupla Nduga Nggem Silimo Walak Wano Western Dani Yali Paniai Lakes Auye Dao Ekari Moni Wolani Digul River Aghu Awbono Bayono Densar Edera Jair Kombai Komyandaret Korowai Mandobo Pisa Sawi Shiaxa Tsaukambo Wambon Foja Range Airoran Bagusa Berik Betaf Bonerif Dabe Dineor Edwas Gresi Isirawa Itik Kapori Kauwera Keijar Kemtuik Kwerba Kwerba Mamberamo Kwesten Kwinsu Mander Massep Mawes Mekwei Mlap Namblong Nimboran Orya Sause Oksapmin Samarokena Trimuris Vitou Lakes Plain Awera Biritai Doutai Duvle Eritai Fayu Foau Iau Kaiy Keuw Kirikiri Kwerisa Obokuitai Papasena Rasawa Sikaritai Tause Taworta Waritai East Cenderawasih Bay Baropasi Bauzi Burate Demisa Kofei Nisa-Anasi Sauri Tefaro Tunggare Woria Yawa Saweru Yawa Demta–Sentani Demta Nafri Sentani Tabla Ok Burumakok Faiwol Iwur Kopka Muyu Nakai Ngalum Ninggerum Tangko Tifal Yonggom Momuna–Mek Eipo Goliath Ketengban Kosarek Korupun Nalca Nipsan Somahai Skou Skou South Pauwasi Biksi-Yetfa Kembra Kimki Lepki Murkim East Pauwasi Emem Zorop West Pauwasi Namla Tebi Tofanma Towei Usku Kaure–Kosare Kaure Kosare Marind–Yaqai Bipim Marind Yaqay Bulaka River Maklew Yelmek Kayagar Atohwaim Kayagar Tamagario Border Awyi Elseng Taikat Manem Sowanda Viid Waris Senagi Dera Mairasi Mairasi Mer Semimi Kolopom Kimaghama Morori Ndom Riantana Yam Ngkolmpu Kanum Rema Smerki Tamer Yei Lower Mamberamo Warembori Yoke Others Abinomn Abun Amung Burmeso Dem Kanum Maklew Maybrat Molof Momina Mor Mpur Sumuri Tambora † Uhunduni

Other languages

Creoles and Pidgins Malay-based creoles Alor Malay Ambonese Malay Banda Malay Balinese Malay Betawi Gorap Gorontalo Malay Kupang Malay Larantuka Malay Manado Malay Makassar Malay Maumere Malay North Moluccan Malay Sula Malay Orang Pulo Papuan Malay Serui Malay Peranakan Surabayan Other creoles and pidgins Arabic-Javanese of Klego Bidau Creole Portuguese † Borgo Flores Creole Portuguese † Javindo Judeo-Manado Malay † Mardijker † Petjo Pidgin Iha Pidgin Onin Portugis † Tansi Pidgin Tukang Besi Immigrant languages Chinese Cantonese Fuqing Fuzhounese Hainanese Hakka Haklau Hokkien Medan Riau Hinghwa Mandarin Teochew European Dutch English Portuguese Indian Bengali Gujarati Odia Pali Punjabi Sanskrit Sindhi Tamil Telugu Urdu Middle Eastern Arabic Indonesian Arabic Hadhrami Arabic Modern Standard Arabic Others Tagalog Filipino Japanese Korean Sign languages Indonesian Sign Languages Kata Kolok

† indicate extinct languages