Maria Dewi Rosari (Rosi) is a Fulbight Language Teaching Assistant at Columbia in the 2024-25 academic year. She is also an English language lecturer in Indonesia. Gading Auliya is currently a masters student at Teachers College in Adult Learning and Leadership, and is also a facilitator for youth empowerment in Indonesia.

In this conversation, Rosi and Gading explore the Javanese language, focusing on its unique system of speech levels. They highlight the differences between Ngoko (informal) and Krama (formal/polite), along with other registers that help speakers express politeness and navigate social relationships. Additionally, they compare different geographic varieties of Javanese, pointing out their similarities and differences.