Revitalising an endangered language through grassroots traditional arts communities: the case of Javanese language, Indonesia

Language revitalisation is central to maintaining multilingual communities and reviving endangered languages. In the context of the Javanese language in Indonesia, grassroots traditional arts communities have become a fertile space where cultural and language revitalisation occurs at the community level, with or without state support. This article explores how these traditional arts communities have played important roles in revitalising the language through regular Javanese theatrical performances. More specifically, this study highlights the language and cultural learning experiences of members ofKetoprak Gaul, Ketoprak Ketawang, and Karawitan Puspacandra in Central Java as a form of language maintenance and cultural preservation through memorisation, rehearsal, performance of scripts, and internalisation of local culture across generations. The findings shed light on the importance of supporting such traditional arts groups in maintaining multilingual communities.