Copyright © UNIMAS. All rights reserved. No part of this … · 2016-02-03 · Research writing of...

Copyright © UNIMAS. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a data base or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of RIMC, UNIMAS.

Published by: Publication Division, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

Compiled by: Dr Ting Su Hie

Edited by: Dr Ting Su Hie Resni Mona

FOREWORD

In this era of globalisation where various cultures and language groups come into contact with one another, reactive and assimilative effects are bound to occur. Traditional ways of life are marginalised to give way to modern forms of living, resulting in the development of more homogeneous cultures. Languages in contact influence one another, take on features of other languages and sometimes the influence manifest in code-switching. Markers of social group membership, particularly those that connote ethnic identity, undergo a spectrum of changes in different speech communities. This issue of Research Update highlights research on the complex facets of language, culture and identity undergoing evolution.

Whether it is from a linguistic, cultural or pedagogical perspective, the research in this issue revolves around the central theme of how the old and new collides in the face of global communication. The question of preserving traditional values, beliefs and practices is extensively studied via actual and in situ input to unravel the views of members within the speech communities and their maintenance of traditional languages and cultures. Research that explores digital means of preserving folklore and elements of folk culture that form the core of ethnic identity is also described. In addition, this issue addresses studies on how old texts and worldviews are interpreted from a post-colonial perspective. Finally, in an ultra-modern era where virtual and physical spaces merge to radically dismiss personal contact, even the teaching of languages and content subjects take on new concerns and emphases. Therefore, studies on this social phenomenon are explained here as well.

We hope that the information highlighted in this issue of Research Update can provide insights into the emergence of the “1Malaysia” identity through the microscopic view and stethoscopic assessment of the latest findings in language change, evolving identities, and language use as well as interaction patterns in various settings. It is our desire that the research described here will trigger keen intellectual discourse among enthusiasts in the volitional and research sphere of pure and applied linguistics.

Prof Dr Peter SonganDeputy Vice Chancellor (Research & Innovation)Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

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LANGUAGE TEACHING AND LEARNING

Ambiguity resolution in L2 prepositional phrase attachment

Code-switching in classroom discourse of English and Science teachers

Effects of rater training procedures on rating judgement

Jawi writing: Generating interest through art calligraphy

Learning of Japanese: Verbs used in Physics for technical colleges

Non-Chinese speaking students in Chinese medium school

Perceptual learning style preferences of students and undergraduates

Research writing of Malaysian scholars in national refereed journals

Rural parents’ participation in children’s education

Second language learners’ discourse: Questions in language learning

Teaching and learning of science in English: Views of teachers and students

Using learner’s mother tongue in the English language classroom

LANGUAGE, CULTURE AND IDENTITY

Bidayuh of Sarawak: Question of language, culture and ethnicity

Cross-linguistic influences between languages in Sarawak

Dilemma of Kenyah postcolonial texts and Lakiput ethnicity

Language contact and multilingual communities in South-western Sarawak

Language-ethnic identity link for Chinese speakers in Sarawak

Malaysian identity reflected in language use of transactions

Preservation of Sarawak Malay folklore in the globalisation era

Preserving stories from remote communities in Bario through children

Sarawak Malay material culture and their Weltanschauung

The grimace of Sarawak Malays: From politics to daily culture

The myth of the lazy native revisited: Sarawak Malay pre-colonial contact

Zeitgeist in the Malay Archipelago

Selected Publications

CONTENTS

Studies have shown that there are differences in the processing of ambiguous sentence structures by L1 speakers and L2 learners. In line with this, an offline questionnaire study and an online self-paced reading task were carried out to find out whether Malay L2 ‘early’ learners differ from native English speakers in resolving ambiguous Prepositional Phrase-attachment structures when context is manipulated. Attachment preferences in sentences such as the spy saw the policeman with binoculars (Verb Phrase-attachment) / a revolver (Noun Phrase-attachment) were investigated by constructing two types of preceding contexts in support of each attachment. On the one hand, the Referential Theory (Altmann & Steedman, 1988) suggests that noun phrases, whose presuppositions are satisfied, facilitate reading; signifying the role of referential context in early parsing. On the other hand, the syntax-first approach assumes no immediate contextual roles in determining initial parsing decisions. While English L1 speakers are often claimed to primarily use syntactic cues in the initial parsing of ambiguous structures, L2 learners are said to be influenced mainly by non-structural cues such as lexical-semantic, pragmatic and contextual information. In view of this, the Shallow Structure Hypothesis (Clahsen & Felser, 2006) postulates that L2 learners, unlike L1 speakers, are overly reliant on non-syntactic information in making early parsing decisions due to the inadequacies of the acquired L2 grammar. As predicted, while the L1 speakers only showed reliable contextual effects in the offline tasks, the L2 learners showed significant effects in both tasks; thus supporting the claim of a shallower processing in the L2. The findings have implications on the teaching of language structures.

ResearcherRadina Mohamad Deli

AMBIGUITY RESOLUTION IN L2 PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE ATTACHMENT

5RESEARCH UPDATE VOL.5 NO.2 JUNE 2010

RESEARCH UPDATE VOL.5 NO.2 JUNE 20106 7

In multilingual speech communities, the implementation of the education policy on the official language of instruction is often mediated by the sociocultural context and pedagogical considerations for the learning outcomes. The dilemma is between maintaining an English-only classroom in compliance with language policy and tapping into the use of other languages closer to the hearts and minds of the learners. The study examined the code-switching practices of secondary school English and Science teachers in the classroom. Classroom discourse and interview data were obtained from 36 Science and English teachers for analysis. Analysis of the code-switching functions using Gumperz’s (1982) framework showed a different nature of code-switching in English and Science classrooms. The English teachers switched to other languages primarily to reiterate messages, address specific students, and for personalisation and objectivisation. The Science teachers, however, mainly quoted from students’ responses and written texts to explain natural phenomena. The results revealed a co-occurrence of code-switching functions which has not been highlighted in previous studies on code-switching functions. For example, the repeated use of reiteration is linked to the salience of the message and the reiteration-quotation sequence is used to incorporate student responses into the class discussion. The objectivisation-reiteration sequence has been found to empower teachers by alluding to Bahasa Melayu as the language of directives from the Ministry of Education. The teachers’ resolve to use the designated language of instruction is evident, with student comprehension being the yardstick for deciding when code-switching is needed.

ResearchersDr Ting Su Hie, David Then Chen On

CODE-SWITCHING IN CLASSROOM DISCOURSE OF ENGLISH AND SCIENCE

TEACHERS

Science Teacher: Correct. In English ou call it as um fulcrum. Correct. And you use the label F. And in this, to lift the load, you need to … have some effort or the force. Untuk mengangkat sesuatu kamu mesti gunakan tenaga (To lift something you have to use force). Jadi ini ialah tenaga kamu (So this is your force). Dan ini ialah beban kamu (And this is your load). Objek kamu (Your object). Okay? Alright, so this is the lever. Alright, this consists of three parts here. You must have a fulcrum, and there must be an effort, and also there must be a load. Dia mesti ada beban. Baru kamu pakai tenaga. Dan dia mesti ada satu pusat yang tetap iaitu fulcrum. Okay.

The ability to write well in a target language is often seen as an important criterion for acceptance into many educational and occupational settings. Thus, scores given by testing bodies usually have critical implications on both the test takers and the stake-holders. In order to increase the validity and reliability of scoring, rater training is often recommended. Literature shows that rater training programmes seem to employ a number of procedures in a variety of ways. However, empirical evidence on the effects of these procedures on rating judgment is rather scarce. The present study investigated the effects of three commonly employed rater training procedures on rating accuracy, severity, justification, process and experience. A pre, post, follow-up experimental research design was employed and data were collected before, immediately after and one month after training. Actual IELTS scripts with their ‘official scores’ determined through Multi Faceted Rasch analysis, were used for data collection purposes. A total of 63 novice raters were selected from 102 teacher trainees and the selected participants formed three equally matched experimental groups. Their rating judgement immediately and one month after going through the assigned training procedure were compared with prior training scores. The findings indicate that training helps raters adjust their rating severity and improves raters’ rating accuracy and justification. In addition, training also influences the raters’ rating process and experience. However, different procedures seem to have different effects and may not last long. This study recommends the use of the different training procedures in addressing different assessment contexts to achieve the best training results.

ResearcherDr Soubakeavathi Rethinasamy

EFFECTS OF RATER TRAINING PROCEDURES ON RATING JUDGEMENT

RESEARCH UPDATE VOL.5 NO.2 JUNE 20106 7RESEARCH UPDATE VOL.5 NO.2 JUNE 2010

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JAWI WRITING: GENERATING INTEREST THROUGH CALLIGRAPHIC ART

Earlier studies on Jawi writing mostly focus on the writer’s writing skills: identifying the causes, weaknesses of Jawi writing, and the approaches for correcting errors. However, the potential impact of using the art of calligraphy to cultivate interest in Jawi writing and to increase the accuracy of Arab-Malay translation in education is relatively unexplored. This study investigates the combined effect of a good understanding of Jawi writing and skills in the art of calligraphy as the driving factors to advance the role of the Jawi script in the Malaysian society. In this study, factors that contribute to the marginalisation of Jawi literacy in the community were also examined. From a pedagogical perspective, this study examines the method that can be applied through calligraphic approach to enhance the current Jawi writing system and the Arab-Malay translation activities. Data were obtained through observations, interviews with local residents and direct involvement in Jawi calligraphy teaching of KAFA teachers. The findings highlight the prevailing cultural practices that confine the use of Jawi writing to religious affairs, the lack of skilled teachers and the weak role played by the religious institutions in realising the writing practices of Jawi calligraphy. The introduction of a more practical styling approach in Jawi calligraphy will help to promote the interest of society in Jawi script as a branch of calligraphic art.

ResearcherMohd Azhar Ali

Picture 1 (above) and Picture 2 (below) represent the different styles of Jawi calligraphy writing based upon the same sentence and character.

RESEARCH UPDATE VOL.5 NO.2 JUNE 2010

Besides studying Japanese Language at the preparation centre in Malaysia, students who plan to further their studies in Technical Colleges in Japan are also required to learn Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics in Japanese. Research has indicated that vocabulary appears to be one of their main problems in this foreign language learning, and nouns are far easier to learn than verbs. The study focuses on the verbs used and its characteristics in the textbook, Physics for Technical College. This textbook is currently used in one of the preparation centres in Malaysia and in several technical colleges in Japan. Out of 1,874 verbs that appeared in the first to 15-17 pages of 5 chapters, 383 verbs were selected for analysis. The findings showed that by knowing 128 high-frequency verbs, students can understand 80% of the verbs used in the text and there are verbs very closely related to the chapter content. In addition, some of the meanings of the verbs used are different from the meaning that the students have learnt in their Japanese language class. Moreover, most of the compound verbs that appeared are not taught in the basic level and some are not even listed in dictionaries. The findings suggest that Japanese language courses that prepare students for technical colleges in Japan need to be aligned with the needs of the students.

ResearcherRokiah Paee

LEARNING OF JAPANESE: VERBS USED IN PHYSICS FOR

TECHNICAL COLLEGES

8 9RESEARCH UPDATE VOL.5 NO.2 JUNE 2010

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NON-CHINESE SPEAKING STUDENTS IN CHINESE MEDIUM

SCHOOL

Primary school is the first place where children receive formal education which includes basic reading, writing, arithmetic, as well as thinking skills. Thus, primary education is extremely crucial in a child’s life as it provides the foundation to literacy. With the various types of school available in Malaysia, parents have choices when deciding which school to send their children. This study investigated the reasons Malay parents send their children to Chinese medium school, the challenges faced by the children in the school and their academic performance. The case study involved 20 Malay students of Primary 6 at a rural Chinese medium school in Kuching, Sarawak and their parents. Extensive semi-structured interviews were carried out with the parents focusing on their reasons for choosing to send their children to the school; while the interview with the students focused on the challenges they faced in the school. The students’ UPSR results were used as a measure of their academic performance. The findings indicate that the parents’ decision for sending their children to the school was influenced by convenience, and economic and language factors. Being non-speakers of the Chinese language, the students faced academic as well as social challenges especially during their earlier years in the school. Analyses of the students’ UPSR results show that they are not doing well in all subjects except Bahasa Melayu. The findings of the study seem to suggest the need for additional support, especially from parents and school, to ensure that the students acquire sufficient literacy during their primary education.

ResearchersDr Soubakeavathi Rethinasamy, Izat Ussally Jemat (Sarawak Education Department)


PERCEPTUAL LEARNING STYLE PREFERENCES OF STUDENTS AND

UNDERGRADUATES

Studies have indicated that variations in students’ learning style preferences need to be considered for better learning outcomes. This study investigated the perceptual learning style preferences (PLSP) of two groups of students. Phase 1 of the study focussed on the PLSP of Form Four Arts students when learning literature in English. The purpose was to examine whether teachers were aware of, and if they do, whether they subsequently varied their instructional strategies to cater to their students’ PLSP. Phase 2 of the study focussed on students in a Malaysian university. The purpose was to find out whether the students’ demographic characteristics such as stream of studies, gender and ethnic background influenced their PLSP. In both phases of the study, Reid’s (1987) framework on perceptual learning style preferences were used, and data were collected through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The results from Phase 1 of the study showed that teachers were aware of their students’ learning style preferences but did not tailor their instructional strategies to their students’ PLSP. The analysis of 248 questionnaire responses in Phase 2 of the study revealed a preference for kinesthetic, visual and tactile learning styles, with gender and stream bias for group and individual learning styles. In addition, tactile learning styles were the least preferred by the Chinese respondents compared to other races. The findings suggest that second language learners have similar perceptual learning styles preferences regardless of the setting.

ResearchersRosnah Mustafa, Pung Wun Chiew, Muriatul Khusmah Musa (UiTM), Faridah Rinong (Sarawak Education Department), Fairuz Abd Latif, Nik Zati Iwani Mad Zaid


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RESEARCH WRITING OF MALAYSIAN SCHOLARS IN NATIONAL REFEREED JOURNALS

Researchers interested in the research writing and ability of non-native English scholars to publish in international refereed journals have identified some features of the writing which may explain the lower success rate of getting published. This research focuses on publications in Malaysian journals in the area of applied linguistics and education. A total of 50 empirical papers from eight Malaysian journals were selected for analysis. The analysis encompassed the organisation of content in the Introduction, Method and Conclusion sections of the journal papers as well as relevant language features. The Results section was not analysed as the description and interpretation of results is hinged to the specific nature of the discipline. The findings indicate some non-conformity to the conventions of international journal papers. In the Introduction, the related literature is listed rather than reviewed to establish a niche for the study. The tendency is to provide a positive justification for the study. The Method section usually lacks elucidation of data analysis procedures. In many cases, the Concluding section is too reserved in showing the contribution of the study to the body of knowledge in the field. In terms of language features, the analysed research articles show appropriate use of hedging devices and modality in the introduction and conclusion sections. However, the first person pronoun tends to be used to report data collection procedures rather than to claim authority in the body of knowledge. The findings raise questions on the awareness of research writing conventions and the necessity to conform in order to get published. ResearcherDr Ting Su Hie

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Parental participation in the education of their children has been found to improve the quality of education, subject to the influence of factors such as socio-economic status and ethnic background. What is generally viewed as good parental practices in middle class families may not be the ideal in other cases, especially in isolated rural communities, as their participation in their children’s education may take forms which are different from what has been found. This study investigates the perceptions of Sa’ban parents, a rural ethnic community of the Punang Kelapang in northern Sarawak, towards their participation in their children’s education. Twenty-four parents (twelve couples) with school-going children were interviewed for this study. Qualitative analysis of the results indicated that the Sa’ban parents perceived the necessity of their participation but their concern with making a living and their lack of education prevented them from bringing their concerns about their children’s education to the teachers. Their participation took the forms of attending school functions and providing manual labour for the infrastructure of the school. However, these parents cited that their lack of self confidence was the root for not knowing what to and how to communicate with the school; and that financial and time constraint as the major challenges for them to get involved in their children’s education. The findings suggest that schools need to create avenues for parents from the rural minority group and the socio-economically disadvantaged group to get involved in their children’s education.

ResearchersLily Law, Paulus Balan (Sarawak Education Department)

RURAL PARENTS’ PARTICIPATION IN CHILDREN’S EDUCATION


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When education has a purpose and teaching goes beyond generating content knowledge, it becomes necessary for teachers to listen to their learners’ voices and see how their questions and responses contribute to the learning process. This study examined the overlap between face-to-face and online question-and-answer sessions of children and young adults in and out of classroom settings. The aim is to discover successful questions and responses which helped learners build on their experiences and improve their language. This largely exploratory study included both taped oral and online discourse threads of children and young adults from East and West Malaysia, it investigated: a) students responses based on question types, b) questions that enabled learners to speak beyond textbook literalness, and c) questions that help build on learners experience and language ability. The study reported on the learning outcomes in terms of learner ability/inability to evaluate themselves as team players who are knowledgeable and able to communicate and contribute as team players even when there were challenging questions. This was similar in both natural and online interactions. However, the same learner ability to respond and interact became limited when questions were posed to test their knowledge in the formal environment and when the question failed to value their experiences. Also, most students did not have the language to communicate and became silent when attention was placed on correcting their language ability. The findings have serious applications and implications for progress of the learner centred classroom in the region. ResearchersDr Shanthi Nadarajan, Tan Yee Suan (USM)

INVESTIGATING SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNERS’ DISCOURSE: QUESTIONS IN LANGUAGE LEARNING


English language has become an important language of academic instruction. Thus, the teaching and learning of a content subject in English is not a unique phenomenon in various parts of the world. In Malaysia, the teaching and learning of Mathematics and Science in English (ETeMS) was implemented in 2003. This has received and is still receiving various reactions particularly from politicians, parents, language experts and policy makers. This study employed a survey research design and investigated the views of Science teachers and students who had completed 6 years of primary education under the ETeMS policy. With teacher as participants, the focus was on teaching of the subjects, while with student as participants, the focus was on their views on English language proficiency, learning Science in English, importance of learning Science in English and preferred language of instruction. The findings show that the teachers are quite comfortable in teaching the subject in English. Similarly, the majority of the students view their English language ability as at least average, have positive views about learning Science in English, were very aware of the importance of learning Science in English, and prefer to learn Science in English only or bilingually with the Malay language. The study highlights the need to listen to the teachers as well as the students on the need to continue with the policy for a more holistic development of the future generations of Malaysia.

ResearchersDr Soubakeavathi Rethinasamy , Radina Mohd Deli, Mohd Hafizan Hashim, Pung Wun Chiew, Paulinus Johie (Sarawak Education Department), Pirenlod Nohik (Sarawak Education Department)

Supporting GrantUNIMAS Small Grant Scheme (03S57/722/2010(08)

TEACHING AND LEARNING OF SCIENCE IN ENGLISH: VIEWS OF TEACHERS AND STUDENTS


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While some teachers and linguists believe that L1 or learners’ mother tongue plays an important role in second language (L2) or foreign language classrooms, others cringe at the thought of using learners’ L1 in the second or foreign language classroom. The study examined teachers’ views on using L1 in the teaching of English as a Second Language, and their reasons for their choice to use or not to use L1 as a teaching technique. A total of 45 in-service teachers enrolled in the Bachelor of Education in Teaching English as A Second Language (TESL) in a Malaysian university participated in the study. The questionnaire results show that generally the teachers believed that translation from L2 to L1 is beneficial but should be used sparingly in the ESL classrooms. The interview results showed that none of the teachers taught English in an English-only classroom. All of them had to resort to use of the learners’ mother tongue, particularly to translate words or phrases at some point in their teaching. However, they were aware of the adverse effects in the form of students’ over-dependence on teacher translation in the L2 classrooms and the model of English that the learners were acquiring. In such context, a balance is sought between ensuring that teaching-learning activities can be carried out somewhat smoothly and giving learners the opportunity to develop strategic competence in applying their limited linguistic resources to negotiate meaning.

ResearchersRosnah Mustafa, Dewing Piyud (Sarawak Education Department)

USING LEARNER’S MOTHER TONGUE IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE CLASSROOM


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BIDAYUH OF SARAWAK: QUESTION OF LANGUAGE, CULTURE AND ETHNICITY

Language, culture and ethnic identity are intertwined with one another. Language is supposedly a marker of ethnic identity. However, for the Bidayuh of Sarawak, this may or may not apply. The language situation of the Bidayuh people itself has resulted in language shift among the people. The Bidayuh language is only used to communicate within rural areas and among Bidayuhs. The common languages of communication are usually Bahasa Malaysia, English or Sarawak Malay Dialect. This has resulted in the younger generation of Bidayuh who are exposed to other languages but do not know or speak or understand their native language. This brings to mind the question of identity. The study examines the markers of the Bidayuh identity, particularly whether language is a marker of identity. For the purpose of this study, interviews were conducted with 30 Bidayuh of different ages, geographical locations and of mixed parentage. This study showed that language does not play a significant role in determining the ethnic identification of these participants; and other factors such as values, norms, beliefs, practices and even geographical location are more important determinants of their ethnic identity.

Researchers Yvonne Michelle Campbell, Wilfred Harding ak Jiee (Sarawak Education Department)



CROSS-LINGUISTIC INFLUENCES BETWEEN LANGUAGES IN

SARAWAK

This is a cross-linguistic, longitudinal study on language changes taking place among select Bidayuh language groups. It sets to identify similarities and differences in specific lexical and semantic structures within the Bidayuh varieties/languages among speakers from the Bau and Lundu region. The study is based on existing assumptions in Second Language Acquisition that state that a) learner’s production at any time are more or less successful attempts to reproduce the structural properties of target languages, b) learner utterances cannot be analysed in its own right but in relation to the languages around them, and c) the target language should be analysed not in relation to the target language itself, but to some alleged structural characterisation of the target language which the researcher believes to be correct and appropriate. The study had involved periodical examination of how discourse and word use shift over generations through time and inter-cultural contact and where dominant and indigenous languages compromise. The study addresses both code-switching and phonological variations in relation to the influence of dominant language and indigenous languages. Currently, at its first stage, the research is confined to documentation and analysis of select discourse as told by the elders and young adults. The study relates bilingualism to simple language changes taking place between and within the communities.

Researcher Dr Shanthi Nadarajan



DILEMMA OF KENYAH POSTCOLONIAL TEXTS AND

LAKIPUT ETHNICITY

In this study, the short stories of David Belulok from the Lakiput, a minority ethnic group in Sarawak, are analysed to examine the Lakiput worldview. Little is known about the Lakiput ethnicity, including the history and sociocultural life of the community. In the context of the prime ethnic wave, the Lakiput ethnicity seems to be drowned in the ethnic political hegemony, to the extent that the Lakiput ethnicity is almost absent from the history of nation-building in Malaysia. The function of Lakiput writers, represented by David Belulok, is to portray the existence, roles and position of Lakiput ethnicity in the historical map and the questions of ethnicity and contribution to nation-building that surface for members of the community themselves. The analysis reveals that the themes brought up by David Belulok are different from the common themes used by young national arts writers in this country. His short stories provides evidence of the postcolonial thinking that defends the position of a little known ethnic group that seems to be sidelined in the national historical discourse.

ResearcherDr Awang Azman Awang Pawi

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David Belulok with son


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LANGUAGE CONTACT AND MULTILINGUAL COMMUNITIES IN

SOUTH-WESTERN SARAWAK

The existing variation in the categorisation of spoken languages in the South-western region of Sarawak calls for systematic linguistic studies. The Ethnologue categorisation (c.f. Lewis, 2009) of languages and dialects of speech communities in the region may not correspond to native speakers’ perceptions of their languages. Some of the so-called dialects in this region of Sarawak are in actual fact “sub-family of languages” (Asmah, 1983; c.f. Hudson, 1978). This project examines the development of the Malayic and Ibanic isolects and the effects of contact between closely-related languages on linguistic structures of one another. The South-western region of Sarawak is inhibited by Ibanic speech communities (Remun, Balau Sebuyau Iban), Malayic languages (Selako and Sebuyau Malay), and Bidayuhic languages (Rara Bakati’, Bau, Tringgus-Sembahaan, Bukar Sadong). These communities are polyglossic and multilingualism is the norm in this part of Sarawak. The communities have been in intense contact for several centuries and language contact-induced features such as borrowing of basic and non-basic vocabulary can be identified. The languages spoken within the sprachbund share some phonological features that mirror the effects of contact-induced language change rather than features of genetically-related language. Seemingly, at this point, the Ibanic languages have adopted some linguistic features from the Malay language, which have created further distinctive features from other languages within the Ibanic sub-family of languages. The Sebuyau Malay dialect spoken in this area has also maintained its distinctive phonological features despite the dominance of the regional dialect of Malay.

Researchers Dr Norazuna Norahim, Salbia Hassan, Sharifah Aishah Wan Kahar (UiTM)



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LANGUAGE-ETHNIC IDENTITY LINK FOR CHINESE SPEAKERS IN

SARAWAK

Ethnicity has been viewed as inherited characteristic, expressed through speaking the ethnic language or through other symbols, such as cuisine and physical appearance (Fishman, 1977). In the literature on language shift and maintenance, ethnic identity has been cited as one of the main forces maintaining the use of the ethnic language in the speech community. This study examined the internal criteria for ethnic group membership in the Foochow, Hokkien and Hakka speech communities, focusing on the link between language and ethnic identity. Data on their language attitudes and language use in various domains were collected using questionnaires, interviews and observations. The study involved 280 Foochow speakers in the Sibu and Kuching region, and so far 50 Hokkien and 31 Hakka speakers in Kuching have been included in the study. The results indicated that while the older generation (aged 50 and above) may view the ethnic language as an integral component of their ethnic identity, it is not shared by the younger generation. The expression “a Foochow who cannot speak Foochow” exemplifies the view that membership in the Chinese sub-group is inherited and does not have to be earned through proficiency in the language. Signs of a supra-Chinese identity are emerging among the younger members of the Chinese speech community brought up with Mandarin as the first language. Whether the blurred dialectal distinctions among the younger Chinese could lead to greater cohesion in the sociocultural and political sense remains to be investigated.

ResearchersDr Ting Su Hie, Puah Yann Yann, Teddy Nelson (UM), Catherine Ngoui (Sarawak Education Deparment), Chang Yee Shee (Sabah Education Department)


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MALAYSIAN IDENTITY REFLECTED IN LANGUAGE USE

OF TRANSACTIONS

The transactions domain is a public domain where people of various language and ethnic backgrounds interact for the exchange of goods and services. The vendors and customers usually do not know one another, with the exception of regular customers. Research was conducted in various transactional settings to examine the common language choices and the sociocultural considerations for the language choices. Observations of naturally occurring interactions between vendors and customers in open-air fruit stall, computer shop, photo shop, cake shop, shopping complex and hotels were recorded for analysis. The results showed a dichotomy of language choices along ethnic lines. For interethnic communication, the use of Bahasa Melayu by those who had formally learnt the language reflects the envisioned role for the national language as a common language of communication in Malaysia. In other instances, Bazaar Malay is the lingua franca in the market place. For transactions between Chinese vendors and customers, Mandarin Chinese is the default choice with the language of the Chinese sub-groups (Foochow, Hokkien, Hakka) coming to the fore when both parties find out about their shared language background. In the Malaysian setting, ethnicity is a consideration in the language choice even when the vendor and customers do not know one another. When the vendors make a language switch, at times it is to take account of the customer’s ethnicity rather than communicative efficiency alone, and customers have been found to dictate the language choice of the encounter because of their higher status in the transactional relationship. Non-verbal communication is another characteristic of Malaysian transactions observed.

Researchers Dr Ting Su Hie, Kimberley Lau Yih Long, Cassandra Lau (Swinburne Sarawak)


PRESERVATION OF SARAWAK MALAY FOLKLORE IN THE

GLOBALISATION ERA

This research focuses on the value of folklore in the construction of the Sarawak Malay community identity. The elements of folklore examined were traditional stories, folk songs, marital rites and traditional healing practices. Fieldwork involving interviews, recordings and observations in Kampung Bangka Semong, Kota Samarahan yielded data on the traditional knowledge and practice of folklore, and the extent of perservation by the younger generation in the community. The analysis of the customs and traditions of the Malay community in Kampung Bangka Semong showed that elements of politeness, and personable disposition and communal welfare are reflected not only in poems and metaphors but also in daily behaviour and language use, such as pronouns, greetings and honorifics. The findings showed that while some parts of the folklore are still conserved, others are no longer practised by the younger generation because of modernisation and the adoption of Islamic beliefs. However, despite the social transformation in the globalisation era, the younger generation still exhibit the characteristics known for Sarawak Malays.

ResearchersHamidah Abdul Wahab, Wan Robiah Meor Osman, Rosnah Mustafa & Farah Hanini Abdul Rahman (UiTM)


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PRESERVING STORIES FROM REMOTE COMMUNITIES IN BARIO

THROUGH CHILDREN

Storytelling is a part of living in many communities around the world. Stories are valued as important as food, clothing, shelter and religion (Rexroth, 1987), and is the primary means of passing on culture and valued traditions. However, not all stories have survived the passing of time. In remote communities, stories are preserved through the oral tradition of storytelling. The transmission of stories, ritual chants and songs, depends on the ability of the community elders or leaders to verbally communicate the stories to the younger members of the community, who would later carry on with the traditions. This project focuses on folk stories from the Kelabit Highlands of Bario, which is located on the island of Borneo, close to the Malaysia-Indonesia border. The community mostly speaks the Kelabit dialect which is not taught formally in school. The community, however, is rich in local culture, traditions, rituals and folktales. Initial investigation suggests that there is a great need to document these folk stories before modernisation takes them away. The project aims to capture and preserve the stories from the Kelabit Highlands in digital form in which the children play an important role as the agent of preservation. To provide a meaningful context, the initiative is tied in with the primary and secondary school syllabi which emphasise the development of listening, speaking, reading and writing skills.

Researchers Dr Soubakeavathi Rethinasamy, Dr Norazila Abd Aziz, Dr Fitri Suraya Mohamad, Mohd Hafizan Hashim


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SARAWAK MALAY MATERIAL CULTURE AND THEIR

WELTANSCHAUUNG

This research analyses the concept of material culture and its relevance to the Malay material culture in Sarawak. The Malay material culture in Sarawak is considered new as not much research has been done on that subject matter in Malaysia and needs to be studied because of the stark difference between the local knowledge and heritage in Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak. In the broad perspective of the nusantara world, the Malay material culture is under the Malay Archipelago diaspora but different in terms of creativity, innovativeness, thinking and values of the creator. The Sarawak Malays are facing a rapid phase of transformation and they are very dynamic. As a result, there are some changes and differences in the material culture of the traditional and urban Malays: a social transformation engendered by modernisation. At one time, material culture was considered part of the Malay culture, but now it is part of the identity of the Malay community of Sarawak. This study on the significant role of the material culture in the lives of the traditional Malays and the modern urban Malay populace is on-going.

ResearchersDr Awang Azman Awang Pawi, Dr June Ngo, Rosnah Mustafa, Salbia Hassan, Hamidah Abdul Wahab, Siti Marina Kamil

Supporting GrantFundamental Research Grant SchemeFRGS/04(02)681/2008(14)


THE GRIMACE OF SARAWAK MALAYS: FROM POLITICS TO

DAILY CULTURE

In this research project, the Sarawak Malay community is studied from various perspectives. The origin of the Sarawak Malays which has been debated by scholars is revisited. At the same time, the social stratification, population and socioeconomic traditions of the Sarawak Malays are interpreted against the backdrop of changes in the structuring of the Malay community through the passage of time. In the aspect of language and culture, the relationship between the Sarawak Malay dialect, greetings and customs are examined in the context of the broader cultural life of the community. It encompasses the traditional Malay sayings, poems, taboos, ancient wisdoms and traditional beliefs to reach a better understanding of the psyche of the Sarawak Malay community. The folk literature of the Sarawak Malays from the aspect of values and teaching is also examined. Also studied is the Malay performing arts, particularly gendang Melayu Sarawak which is synonymous with Malay cultural activities. The involvement of the Sarawak Malays in traditional political tradition and the evolution to the form of participation in contemporary politics of Sarawak are analysed from a critical perspective. The outcomes of the research project on the traditional and contemporary image of Sarawak Malays are published in a forthcoming book entitled “Wajah Melayu Sarawak: Daripada politik ke budaya harian”.

ResearchersDr Awang Azman Awang Pawi, Rosnah Mustafa, Dr Fatimah Subet


THE MYTH OF THE LAZY NATIVE REVISITED: SARAWAK MALAY

PRE-COLONIAL CONTACT

The myth of the lazy native, as has been expounded by Syed Hussein Alatas, is a form of colonial creation to control the minds of the colonised in order to subjugate them to the power and greatness of the West. This study explores the myth of the lazy native in the context of the traditional Sarawak Malay community in order to historically construct an image and identity of contemporary Malays. This study uses Syed Hussein Alatas’ approach to examine the historical situation and socio-economic and cultural lives of the Sarawak Malays in the world of business, particularly in the pre- and post-colonial era. The literature shows evidence of the early involvement of Sarawak Malays in business but this fact seems to have been erased from the contemporary history of the community. There are also records of the prominence of Malays in business monopoly in the pre-colonial Brooke era. The business monopoly had led to the emergence of the traditional middle class and the power structure in the Sarawak Malay community. However, the Malay business monopoly was eliminated by the Brooke administration and the Malay relationship with other ethnic groups was also affected in the process. The image of Malays as traders in the pre-colonial historical context was forgotten. On the contrary, a new label of Malays as people who do not know how to do business was propagated independent of the historical facts.



ZEITGEIST IN THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO

This study analyses the potential of South East Asia, with specific reference to Malaysia, by exploring the various definitions and concepts related to the potential of South East Asia as a theorist in arts and no longer as a theory consumer, and a postcolonial entity seeking her own identity and nationhood. The study is placed in the context of cultural studies as a multidisciplinary system, and language as a cultural investment. The approach for the study includes reading South East Asia literature and observation of the development of arts in these countries. The approach also includes text and context analyses, as well as interpretations from cultural studies beyond the conventional aesthetic form. The preliminary results indicate that the Malaysian national literature and arts do not only serve as a symbol of national identity but also function to fortify the South East Asian Literature and Arts, and its relation with the development of the magnum opus. Hence, collaboration among South East Asian countries in this field is needed to strengthen its contribution to discussions on postmodernism and its influence in the local arena.



SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Awang Azman Awang Pawi. (2008). Falsafah kesenian Puitika Melayu. BERIGA, 101, 16-47.

Awang Azman Awang Pawi. (2008). Pembangunan kesusasteraan Sarawak: Analisis institusi. Sarawak Museum Journal, LXV, No. 86 (New Series), 87-110.

Awang Azman Awang Pawi (2009). Zeitgeist di cakera nusantara. Jurnal Pengajian Melayu, 20, 1-25. Awang Azman Awang Pawi. (2009). Dampak media baru terhadap sastera nasional. Jurnal Pemikir: Utusan Karya, 58, 65-84.

Awang Azman Awang Pawi. (2009). Menulis dengan budaya pascakolonial. Jurnal Pengajian Media, 11(1).

Awang Azman Awang Pawi. (2009). Pelestarian ideologi pascakolonial. Pangsura: Jurnal Pengkajian dan Penelitian Sastera Asia Tenggara, 27(14), 13-59.

Awang Azman Awang Pawi (2009, May 23-24). Penulis muda: Arah dan cabaran: Suatu bahasan. Paper presented at Perhimpunan Penulis Muda Nasional 2009, Puteri Resort Air Keroh, Melaka.

Awang Azman Awang Pawi (2009, May 31- 3 June). Hubungan Melayu –China: Perspektif karya agung Melayu. Paper presented at Persidangan Antarabangsa Pengajian Melayu Sempena Ulang Tahun Ke-35 Hubungan Diplomatik Malaysia-Republik Rakyat China, Beijing, China.

Awang Azman Awang Pawi (2009, June 15-16). Kecantikan Melayu tradisi Islam dan kecelaruan modeniti(?). Proceedings of Konferensi Antarauniversiti Se Borneo-Kalimantan ke-5, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Awang Bujang Awang Antek & Awang Azman Awang Pawi (2009, May 31- 3 June). Budaya politik Melayu dan Cina di Sarawak. Paper presented at Persidangan Antarabangsa Pengajian Melayu Sempena Ulang Tahun Ke-35 Hubungan Diplomatik Malaysia-Republik Rakyat China, Beijing, China. Awang Azman Awang Pawi & Shahri Abdul Rahman (2009, March 19-21). Kuching sebagai nadi dan pusat budaya Melayu Sarawak. Proceedings of Seminar Budaya Melayu Sarawak V, Kuching, Malaysia.

Awang Azman Awang Pawi (2010). The myth of the lazy native revisited: Sarawak Malay pre-colonial contact. Proceedings of International Seminar Trade and Finance in the Malay World. Historical and Cultural Perspectives anjuran Institut für Orientalische und Ostasiatische Philologien, Frankfurt, Germany.

Awang Azman Awang Pawi (Ed.). (In press). Wajah Melayu Sarawak: Daripada politik ke budaya harian. Malaysia: UPSI & UNIMAS.

Awang Azman Awang Pawi (In press). Journal of Malay Literature. Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.

Campbell, Y. M., & Nur Ardini Jian Abdullah @ Elmie Jian (2009, June 15-16). Brayun, lagu masyarakat Bidayuh: Kajian awal bahasa dalam Brayun di Bukar-Sadong. Proceedings of Konferensi Antarauniversiti Se Borneo-Kalimantan ke-5, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Fitri Suraya Mohamad, Norazila Abd Aziz, Rethinasamy, S., & Mohd Hafizan Hashim (2009, November 4-6). Rhetorics and realities in capturing local knowledge through the eyes of children:A Pangaea experience in UNIMAS. Paper presented at the 2nd e-Bario Knowledge Fair, Bario, Malaysia.

Hamidah Abdul Wahab, Wan Robiah Meor Osman, Farah Hanini Abdul Rahman & Rosnah Mustafa (2008, August 5-7). Kelestarian budaya rakyat Melayu Sarawak dalam era globalisasi. Proceedings of 6th International Malaysian Studies Conference (MSC6), Kuching, Malaysia.

Hamidah Abdul Wahab, Wan Robiah bt Meor & Rosnah Mustafa (2009, March 19-21). Kesantunan dalam Budaya Melayu. Proceedings of Seminar Budaya Melayu Sarawak V, Kuching, Malaysia.

Hamidah Abdul Wahab & Wan Robiah Meor Osman (2010). Keterampilan jati diri bangsa dalam pantun Melayu Sarawak. Jurnal Rampak Serantau, 17.


Jipow, J. D., & Campbell, Y. M. (2009, April 28-30). A narrative analysis of the Bidayuh Dondan: A preliminary study. Proceedings of 6th Malaysia International Conference on Languages, Literatures and Cultures (MICOLLAC), Putrajaya.

Law, L., & Balan, P. (2009, 3-5 February). Perceptions of rural parents’ participation in children’s education. Paper presented at 1st National Conference on Rural Education (NCRE 2009), Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.

Mary Fatimah Subet & Salbia Haji Hassan (2009, March 19-21). Bergendang dan bermukun dalam masyarakat Melayu Sarawak. Proceedings of Seminar Budaya Melayu Sarawak V, Kuching, Malaysia.

Mohd Azhar Ali, (2008, August), Ke arah memupuk minat penulisan Jawi melalui pendekatan seni khat. Paper presented at Seminar Kebangsaan Tulisan Jawi, Shah Alam, Malaysia.

Nadarajan, S. (2009, October 7-9). The language errors of Malay learners in Malaysia: A matter of losing the wood for the trees. Proceedings of 6th International Literacy Conference (LITCON 2009), Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.

Nadarajan, S. (2009, November 23-25). Transforming language teachers to leaders through collaborative learning. Proceedings of International Conference on Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Nadarajan, S., & Tan, Y. S. (2009, October 24-25). The use of questioning techniques to enhance Malaysian student’s responses in the language classroom. Proceedings of the Asian Conference on Education, Osaka, Japan.

Nur Ardini Jian Abdullah @ Elmie Jian & Campbell, Y. M. (2009, June 15-16). Biumuh/ Birumuh: Penanaman padi masyarakat Bidayuh: Perbandingan dalam penanaman padi tradisional di daerah Bau dan Serian. Paper presented at Konferensi Antarauniversiti Se Borneo-Kalimantan ke-5, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.

Radina Mohamad Deli (2009, April 28-30). Context effects in L2 prepositional phrase attachment ambiguity resolution. Paper presented at 6th Malaysia International Conference on Languages, Literatures and Cultures (MICOLLAC), Putrajaya, Malaysia.

Rethinasamy, S. (2007, September). Using qualitative research methods in investigating the effects of training on rater’s rating judgement. Paper presented at the 4th International Qualitative Research Convention, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

Rethinasamy, S. (2008, September 11-15). Effects of rater training on ESL raters’ rating accuracy and severity. Paper presented at the 41st British Association for Applied Annual Conference (BAAL 2008), Swansea, United Kingdom

Rethinasamy, S., & Jemat, I. U. (2009, October 7-9). Non-Chinese speaking students in Chinese medium school. Proceedings of 6th International Literacy Conference (LITCON 2009), Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.

Rethinasamy, S., & Johie, P. (2008, December 13-15). Preparing and delivering Science in English: A case study among primary school teachers. Proceedings of Seminar Kebangsaan Jawatankuasa Penyelarasan Pendidikan Guru, Langkawi, Malaysia.

Rethinasamy, S., & Nohik, P. (2008, July 29-31). Learning Science in English: Bidayuh students’ awareness, problems and language preference. Paper presented at the 9th BRC Biennial International Conference 2008, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Rethinasamy, S., Norazila Abd Aziz, Fitri Suraya Mohamad & Mohd Hafizan Hashim (2009, November 4-6). Digitalizing the tales from Bario: A collaborative creative writing project. Paper presented at 2nd e-Bario Knowledge Fair, Bario, Malaysia.

Rethinasamy, S., Norazila Abd Aziz, Fitri Suraya Mohamad & Mohd Hafizan Hashim (2010, March 25-26). Capturing and preserving stories from remote community from Bario: A collaborative creative writing project. Poster presented at UNIMAS Research and Development 2010 Expo. Awarded Silver Medal (Social Science & Humanities Category).

Rokiah Paee (2008). The analysis of verbs used in Physics text book - Physics for technical students. Journal of Japanese Language and Culture, 4, 257-273.


Rosnah Mustafa, Muriatul Khusmah Musa & Fairuz Abd. Latif (2009, May 27-28). Perceptual learning style preferences of Unimas undergraduates: A preliminary survey. Proceedings of International Conference on Languages (UPALS ’09), Georgetown, Malaysia.

Rosnah Mustafa & Nik Zati Iwani Mad Zaid (2009, December 2-3). A survey on the attitudes of learning English among UNIMAS undergraduate students. Paper presented at 2nd International Conference, “Issues in Language Teaching and Learning amongst Non-Native Speaker” (ILANNS), Shah Alam, Malaysia.

Rosnah Mustafa, Pung, W. C., & Faridah Rinong (2009). Learning style preferences among Form 4 students in urban schools – A comparison. The English Teacher, 37, 122-132.

Then, D. C. O., & Ting, S. H. (2009). Preliminary study of code-switching in English and Science secondary school classrooms in Malaysia. Teaching of English as a Second or Foreign Language (TESL-Electronic Journal), 13(1), A3.

Then, D. C. O., & Ting, S. H. (2010). Demystifying the notion of teacher code-switching for student comprehension. Journal of English as an International Language, 5, 182-197.

Ting, S. H. (2009, November 16-18). Writing a journal paper: The structure behind it. Workshop conducted at International Conference on Teaching and Learning (ICTL 2009), Kuching, Malaysia.

Ting, S. H. (2010). Intercultural communication in Sarawak: Language use of the Chinese-language speaking communities. In D. Mukherjee & M. K. David (Eds.). Speaking in many tongues: Language shifts in Malaysian minority communities and the effects of national language planning. Amsterdam: University of Amsterdam Press.

Ting, S. H., & Chang, Y. S. (2008, July 29-31). Communication in a close-knit extended Hakka family in Kuching, Sarawak: Mandarin or Hakka. Proceedings of 9th Biennial Borneo Research Council (BRC) Conference, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.

Ting, S. H., & Chong, N. M. (2008, August 24-29). Making language choices based on appearance in intercultural communication: Fruit seller-customer interactions. Paper presented at 15th International Association of Applied Linguistics (AILA 2008), Essen, Germany.

Ting, S. H., & Hung, Y. L. (2008, August 5-7). Mothers and mother tongue: Their role in promoting Foochow to their children. Proceedings of 6th International Malaysian Studies Conference (MSC6), Kuching, Malaysia.

Ting, S. H., & Lau, C. E. (2009). Discourse structure of telephone enquiries in Malaysian business context. Pertanika Journal of Social Science and Humanities, 17(2), 175-186.

Ting, S. H., & Lau, K. Y. L. (2010, June 8-9). Language choices during transactional encounters at a photo shop. Paper presented at Borneo International Conference on Language and Literature (BiCOLL), Kuching, Malaysia.

Ting, S. H., & Mahadhir, M. (2009). Towards homogeneity in home languages. Australian Review of Applied Linguistics, 32(2), 11.1-11.22.

Ting, S. H., Mahadhir, M., & Ting, S. Y. (2010, July 15-17). Language choice in enquiries about accommodation in hotel telephone service encounters. Proceedings of Languages for Specific Purposes and Professional Communication International Conference, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

Ting, S. H., & Nelson, T. (2010, March 16-18). Language attitudes of Foochow Chinese undergraduates towards Bahasa Melayu. Proceedings of 7th International Malaysian Studies Conference (MSC7), USM, Pulau Pinang.

Ting, S. H., & Puah, Y. Y. (2010, June 8-9). Language attitudes of Hokkien speakers towards Hokkien and Mandarin. Proceedings of Borneo International Conference on Language and Literature (BiCOLL), Kuching, Malaysia.

Wan Robiah bt Meor & Hamidah Abdul Wahab (2009, March 2-3). Nyanyian tradisi masyarakat Melayu Sarawak: Kajian nilai dan budaya. Proceedings of Seminar Antarabangsa: Pertemuan Linguistik Utara ke-6, Medan, Indonesia.


Copyright © UNIMAS. All rights reserved. No part of this … · 2016-02-03 · Research writing of...

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