Picture Credit: Mikolas Voborsky on Unsplash

 

The indigenous people account for around 80 per cent of about 133 languages!

 

FEATURE . . . 

In case you are not aware, Malaysia was multiracial country populated by more than 100 "races". 

 

 

Of course, we are most familiar with Chinese, Malay, and Indian. 

 

 

However, there was more.

 

 

All these "races" exist in various locations in Malaysia and are frequently overlooked. There was total of 133 languages spoken in Malaysia, with indigenous languages accounting for around 80 per cent of the total. These indigenous languages are spoken by Orang Asli (aboriginal people) as they are known in Malaya, or Orang Asal (original people) in Sabah and Sarawak.

 

 

And in this article, we cover some of the indigenous languages that are more popular.

 

 

In Malaya, indigenous languages are spoken by the Jahai, Jahut, Jakun, Semai, Mah Teri, Temiar and Temuan. 

 

 

In Sarawak, they are spoken by the Iban, Bidayuh and Melanau. 

 

 

In Sabah, they are spoken by the Kadazan (urban Dusun), Dusun, Bajau and Murut.

 

 

 

 

Indigenous languages in Malaya . . .

 

Semai

Semai (Engrok Semai) was Austroasiatic language in Malaya spoken by about 44, 000 Semai people. Aspects that differ Semai language with the other indigenous languages arises from irregular pattern of word choices and lack of syllables. This continues with each word less than 4 syllables. For example, "Eat" translated into Semai is "Cak", and "Chicken" is "Fung" in Semai.

 

 

Jakun

Jakun was spoken mostly in Malaya's east coast, particularly from Pekan in Pahang until Sri Gading, and the districts of Segamat, Muar, and Ledang in Johor. The Jakun tribe, who are part of the Proto-Malay branch of Malaya's original peoples, speak the Jakun language. Proto means before. Jakun are not Malay speakers.

 

 

Temuan

Temuan, an Austronesian Malayan language, was spoken by the Temuan people, one of Malaya's Orang Asli or aboriginal peoples, who live in the states of Selangor, Pahang, Johor, Malacca, and Negeri Sembilan. Temuan was different language than Malay, however it shares some mutual intelligibility. Furthermore, it's written in the Roman alphabet, although there was no standard spelling.

 

 

Temuan splits into two primary dialects, Belandas and Mantra, which differ mostly in pronunciation and some lexicon but are nevertheless mutually intelligible among the indigenous people.

 

 

Temiar

The Temiar people of Malaya speak the Temiar language. The Temiar, one of the largest groups of indigenous people, has population of over 30, 000. The term "Temiar" literally means "side" or "edge." This interpretation supports Temiar self-description as "people of the edge or outside like the jungle."

 

 

Baba Malay

The Peranakan speak dialect of Malay called Baba Malay. 

It features mix of Hokkien and Malay, making it common contact language between Hokkien male immigrants and local Malay women. As it's old and endangered dialect, it was typically spoken by people in their eighties and nineties. Chinese people in East Java speak dialect of Baba Malay known as Peranakan. It's blend of Malay or Indonesian with elements of local Javanese and Chinese.

 

This can only be found in East Java, specifically Surabaya and the surrounding regions. While other Chinese speak the language varieties of the places where they live, younger ethnic Chinese people in Surabaya speak Javanese and learn Mandarin.

 

 

Jahut

Jahut was spoken in Malaya by the population near the river. There's no open major syllables in word-final places in Jahut. The language, on the other hand, has 15 consonants that can be employed for closing syllable. There are no limitations for non-homorganic stop cluster. As a result, many words start with consonants that aren't phonetically compatible. For example, there are a lot of words that start with the letters 'tk' or 'bk'. In contrast with other indigenous languages, Jahut has very short phonetic vowel lengths.

 

 

Indigenous languages in Borneo . . . 

Iban

Iban was Austronesian language spoken by the Iban people. The language was quite similar with Malay, especially Sarawak Malay. Iban language supposedly originated in western Borneo.

 

Iban language remains the native tongue of the Iban people, who are part of the "Dayak" ethnic group who are the original people in Borneo. During the colonial period, the Iban were referred to as "Sea Dayak." The Iban are largely located in Sarawak, on the island of Borneo, which was shared politically between Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia.

 

Students in rural regions with a majority Iban population, such as Baleh (Kapit), Betong, Sri Aman, Saratok, Lubok Antu, Pelagus (Kapit), Pakan, and Julau, are usually taught the language. Only a few schools in major cities, such as Kuching, teach the Iban language. This was owing to the scarcity of teachers qualified. Students in Forms 5 and 3 are permitted to include Iban language in their SPM and PT3 exam.

 

 

Bahasa Sarawak

Sarawak Malay was Malayic language spoken in Sarawak. Sarawak people speak as first language. This dialect was connected to Brunei Malay, which was spoken in the Sarawak districts of Limbang and Lawas, and shares many characteristics with Sanggau, Sintang, and Sekadau Malay, spoken in Indonesia's West Kalimantan province.

 

There's some disagreement on whether it's dialect of Malay or distinct language. When compared with the Malay dialects in Sumatra and Malaya, it was closer with Ibanic languages, and differs sufficiently from standard Malay that people outside of Sarawak generally can't comprehend.

 

 

Bajau

The Bajau, sometimes known as the "sea gipsies" of Maritime Southeast Asia, speak the Bajau language often spoken by people originating from Borneo and the Sulu Archipelago.

 

 

Sugut Dusun

Sugut Dusun was widely spoken language among the Dusun or the Kadazan (urban Dusun) of Sabah. Central Dusun and Coastal Kadazan (urban Dusun) are widely considered mutually intelligible, and many people believe them as part of the same language.

 

The central Bundu-Liwan dialects were chosen as the foundation for a standardised "Kadazan Dusun" language in 1995, based on the efforts of the KadazanDusun Cultural Association Sabah. These dialects were chosen because they were thought as the most mutually intelligible when chatting with other "Dusun" or "Kadazan" dialects spoken in the Crocker Range.

 

 

Melanau

Melanau was an Austronesian language spoken along the coast of northwest Borneo's Rajang delta, in Sarawak and Brunei.

 

Of course, a small proportion of the population speaks many more indigenous languages. 

 

Malaysian must learn more about languages and recognise the importance of preserving Malaysian culture. These indigenous languages are key on Malaysia's diversity and beauty. 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this Article do not necessarily represent those of the Center for Policy Initiatives (CPI).

 

This Article first appeared here . . . 

https://www.disclose.ly/article/indigenous-languages-in-malaysia/