Indonesian "-karta" City Names?

Lance Nelson lnelson at SANDIEGO.EDU
Fri May 5 14:07:25 UTC 2006


Can anyone help me with the meanings names of the Indonesian cities 
Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Surakarta? 

I have read that _karta_ is "an Old Javanese word meaning 'city,'' and that 
_Jakarta_ comes from _Jaya-karta_," "city of victory."  I am tempted to 
conclude on this uncertain basis that _Yogyakarta_ means something like 
"capable city" and _Surakarta_ "heroic city," given their Sankritic 
appearance, but then I read that _Yogyakarta_ is a simplified form of 
_Ngayogyakarta_ and I'm lost.

Thanks for any insight.

Lance

----------------------
Lance Nelson
Theology & Religious Studies
University of San Diego





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