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**List: Javanese Ministry the Bible ( al-Kitabé )
JAVANESE VERSION.--1860 S. Bagster [Info only: Javanese Character n.d. possibly III John 1:1-5 unknown.] |
Javanese Bible History (3)
**List: Javanese Ministry
the Bible ( al-Kitabé )
Javanese...
JAVANESE. "I.--GEOGRAPHICAL EXTENT AND STATISTICS. THE island of Java is the most valuable of the Dutch possessions in the East. It lies south of Borneo,
from which it is separated by the Sea of Java, and is divided from Sumatra by the Strait of Sunda. It
measures about 660 miles from east to west; and from north to south it varies in breadth from 40 to
130 miles, embracing an area of little less than 50,000 square miles English.
The population of Java, according to the latest estimates, numbers upward of 11,000,000 indi-
viduals; among whom are nearly 100,000 Chinese, besides Malays and Europeans. The natives to
whom the Javanese dialect is vernacular number about 2,000,000. This dialect is the only general
medium of communication in the civilised and populous part of the island, but Malay is spoken in
every commercial and maritime place, and Madurese is the dialect of the eastern coast. The Sunda
dialect is spoken in the west, near the Straits of Sunda, and prevails over the third part of the island;
but this district is thinly peopled, and the inhabitants do not form above a tenth of the entire popu-
lation. The Madurese and Sunda people are but collateral branches of the great Polynesian stock, and
their dialects do not differ in any important particular from the general tongue. The Javanese is
generally employed among them as their only written language.II.--CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS DIALECT. Next to Malayan, Javanese, which is distinct from it, is the most polished and the most cultivated
of Polynesian dialects. This superiority is principally due to the influence of Sanscrit or rather Pali
literature; for Java was, at an early period, the asylum of expatriated Hindoos, who impressed their
own refinement and civilisation on the people and the language of the island. The Javanese alpha-
betical characters are derived from the Pali alphabet, but are not arranged on the same artificial system.
Not less than fourteen of the Sanscrit or Pali consonants are wanting in the Javanese alphabet, and a
stranger is most struck with the absence of f, v, and sh. Since A.D. 1400, when the Javanese embraced
Moh_mm_danism, many Arabic words have been adopted, by which the native deficiency of the dialect
in abstract terms has been in some measure supplied. This dialect is, however, copious to redundance
in words expressive of the simple objects and actions of common life; it furnishes, for instance, so many
different words precisely descriptive of the various postures of the body, that, as Mr. Crawfurd has
remarked, an anatomist, a painter, or a sculptor might derive assistance from it: there are with this
people ten different modes of standing, and twenty of sitting, and a distinct and specific appellation isappropriated to each. This copiousness in point of words is increased by there being two principal
styles of language, called boso kromo and boso ngoko. The boso kromo is the higher style, used in
addressing persons of superior rank, etc.; and the boso ngoko is the lower style, used in addressing
persons of lower rank; it is also found sometimes in older writings, and in narratives, etc. These two
different styles are, however, considerably intermixed. The Kawi is the ancient and learned language
of Java, in which all the sacred and old civil annals are written.III.--VERSIONS OF THE SCRIPTURES IN THIS DIALECT. The preparation of a Javanese version was first suggested by Dr. Wm. Hunter, of Calcutta, in
1812. Previous to that period no attempt had been made by the Dutch to effect such a translation,
although they had long carried on a correspondence in Javanese with all the native courts except that
of Bantam. On the formation of the Java Bible Society, in 1814, the subject of a Javanese translation
was one of the first which came under the consideration of the committee; but the language was found
so difficult of acquirement to Europeans, particularly on account of the diversity of idiom between
the familiar and the deferential style, that some time elapsed before an individual could be found
qualified to undertake the work. At length the task was intrusted to the Rev. Gotlob Bruckner, a
native of Germany, stationed as minister of the Dutch Church at Samarang. In 1820 he translated
the Gospels, and three years afterwards he completed the first Javanese version of the New Testament.
It was printed in 1831, in an edition of 2000 copies, at Serampore, for the Netherlands Bible Society,
but partly at the expense of the translator, and with the aid of the parent Society.
The translation of the Old Testament was undertaken by the Rev. Mr. Gerické, a my. of
the Netherlands Society, who is said to have entered into the spirit of the Javanese people more than
any other European, and to have acquired a deep and thorough knowledge of their language, character,
customs, and religious principles. In 1831 he completed a version of the Psalms, which he sent to
Holland, to the Netherlands Society, for publication. This version was submitted by the Society to a
learned Javanese then residing at the Hague, and he afforded the most gratifying testimony to the
learning of Mr. Gerické, and the purity of the idiom in which the translation was made.
A fresh translation of the New Testament has since been executed by Mr. Gerické, on the basis
of the preceding version. The Gospel according to St. Matthew was printed at Delft about 1847;
and in 1848 the translator returned to Holland, that the entire version of the New Testament might
be printed under his personal inspection. The printing was conducted at the Hague, and was
completed during the same year, Professor Roorda assisting in the correction of the proof sheets.
Mr. Gerické afterwards returned to Java, and at once employed himself upon the version of the
Old Testament. This work, under the auspices of the Netherlands Bible Society, has since happily
been completed, and passed through the press. The entire Bible is now accessible in the Javanese
tongue, and recent intelligence encourages the hope that in no long time happy effects may ensue from
the dissemination of the Scriptures--both in the Javanese and the Malay languages--among the
inhabitants of this very populous island. "I find the Javanese (writes a Malay teacher, engaged
in one of the mission schools on the island, to Mr. Keasberry, in 1857,) are very anxious to hear the
Gospel; they show no opposition, nor express any doubts as to the truth of the Word of God; on the
contrary, they seem more and more desirous to know as much as they can of the contents of the Gospel,
and compare it with their own books.""--The Bible of Every Land. (1860, Second Edition) Samuel Bagster [Info only]JAVANESE VERSION.--1860 S. Bagster [Info only: Javanese Character n.d. possibly III John 1:1-5 unknown.]
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