Cover not available
Part of
Education in Languages of Lesser Power: Asia-Pacific Perspectives
Edited by Craig Alan Volker and Fred E. Anderson
[IMPACT: Studies in Language, Culture and Society 35] 2015
► pp. 131–151

Bidayuh as a subject at pre-school and primary levels

Moves towards a greater role for a Borneo indigenous language in the Malaysian education system

| Universiti Brunei Darussalam
| Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

This chapter focuses on the Dayak Bidayuh people of western Borneo and their efforts to develop initial literacy in their language(s) in the wider context of the Malaysian education system, in which Malay (Bahasa Malaysia) is currently the main medium of instruction. Informal narratives by teachers illustrate the stigmatisation of Bidayuh in school, and resistance to this. Whilst rural Bidayuh growing up in their traditional home areas still acquire the local variety as a first language, those in urban centres may acquire Sarawak Malay or English as their first language. Bidayuh parents and teachers distinguish between the introduction of Bidayuh as a subject of study in schools, and as a medium of instruction through which other school subjects are taught.

Published online: 5 February 2015
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/impact.35.08mcl
References
Ahi Sarok
1998. Problems and prospects facing Bidayuh mother tongue education. [URL]
Aichner, Revd Fr. P
1949 Some notes on Land Dayak – Their language. Sarawak Museum Journal V(1)(New series no. 16): 95–97.Google Scholar
Bellwood, P
1995 Austronesian prehistory in Southeast Asia: Homeland, expansion and transformation. In The Austronesians: Historical and Comparative Perspectives, P. Bellwood, J. Fox & D. Tryon (eds), 103–118. Canberra: ANU E-Press.Google Scholar
Campbell, Y.M. & McLellan, J
2008 Bidayuh as a subject at pre-school and primary levels: A review of moves towards a greater role for a Borneo indigenous language in the Malaysian education system. Paper presented at 9th Biennial Conference of the Borneo Research Council, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, July 2008.
Campbell, Y.M., Abang, H., Deli, Mohd R., Raslie, H., Melini, M. & Stian, C
2010 Do we or do we not? A survey on language use in extended Bidayuh families. Paper presented at International Conference on Majority and Minority: Language, Culture and Identity, Kuching, November, 2010.
Chang, P.F
2002 History of Bidayuh in Kuching Division. Kuching: Sarawak Press Sdn. Bhd.Google Scholar
Chua, L
2009 To know or not to know: Practices of knowledge and ignorance among Bidayuhs in an ‘impurely’ Christian world. Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute 15, 332–358. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Dawos Mamit, J
2003 Cohesiveness towards a common goal: A knowledgeable and progressive community. In Creating a New Bidayuh Identity, J. Dawos Mamit, Ahi Sarok & N. Amin (eds), 25–34. Kuching: Dayak Bidayuh National Association.Google Scholar
Dayak Bidayuh National Association.
n.d. Multilingual Education Project. Information Brochure for Bidayuh Parents. Kuching: Dayak Bidayuh National Association.
Dealwis, C
2007 A small tree below the rainforest canopies seeking for recognition: Bidayuh language in schools. In Language and Human Rights, M.K. David (ed.), 234–250. Serdang, Malaysia: Universiti Putra Malaysia Press. Google Scholar
2009 Some realities of teaching reading comprehension to rural pupils in Sarawak. International Sociological Association RC25 Newsletter 5. [URL]Google Scholar
Dealwis, C. & David, M.K
2007 Shy speakers: Hearing their voices. Migracijske i etnicke teme 23(1-2): 51–64.Google Scholar
Fishman, J.A
1991 Reversing Language Shift: Theory and Method of Assistance to Threatened Languages. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.Google Scholar
2001 Can Threatened Languages be Saved? Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.Google Scholar
Grenoble, L. & Whaley, L
2006 Saving Languages: An Introduction to Language Revitalization. Cambridge: CUP.Google Scholar
Hudson, A.B
1978 Linguistic relations among Borneo peoples with specific reference to Sarawak: An interim report. Studies in Third World Societies 3: 1–44.Google Scholar
Ik Pahon, J., Josak Siam, Tan, G.O., Vega M. & Simpson, S.E
2010 First language based multilingual education for minority communities – A Bidayuh example. Paper presented at International Conference on Majority and Minority: Language, Culture and Identity, Kuching, November.
Jussem Dundon, S
1989 Bidayuh language and dialects. Sarawak Museum Journal 61(New Series): 407–413.Google Scholar
Landweer, M.L
2001 Indicators of ethnolinguistic vitality. Notes on Sociolinguistics 5(1): 5–22. [URL]Google Scholar
Manyin, M
2010 ‘It’s 1 Bidayuh, says Manyin’. New Sarawak Tribune 29 June2010: 1.Google Scholar
Minos, P
2000 The Future of the Dayak Bidayuhs in Malaysia. Kuching: Lynch Media and Services.Google Scholar
Nais, W
1988 Bidayuh-English Dictionary. Kuching: Persatuan Kesusasteraan Sarawak.Google Scholar
Noeb, J. & Ridu, R.S
2006 Language development in Bidayuh: Past, present and future. In The Bidayuh language: Yesterday, today and tomorrow, C.R. Rensch, C.M. Rensch, J. Noeb & R.S. Ridu, 3–30. Kuching: Dayak Bidayuh National Association.Google Scholar
PopulationData.net.
2011 Malaysia. [URL] (14 November 2013).
Rensch, C.R., Rensch, C.M., Noeb, J. & Ridu, R.S
2006 The Bidayuh Language: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. Kuching: Dayak Bidayuh National Association.Google Scholar
Rigep Nuek, P
2002 A Dayak Bidayuh Community: Rituals, Ceremonies and Festivals. Kuching: Lee Ming Press.Google Scholar
Rigep Nuek, P. & Jussem Dundon, S
2009 REDEEMS: Transforming a Rural Society. Kuching: REDEEMS.Google Scholar
The Star Online
2003 ‘Bidayuh Language dying out’. Report of speech by James Dawos Mamit 22 August 2003 [URL]
Ting, S.H. & Campbell, Y.M
2007 Bahasa Melayu Sebagai Bahasa Komunikasi Keluarga: Kajian Kes Sebuah Keluarga Bidayuh di Sarawak. In Linguistik: Teori dan Aplikasi, N.H. Jalaluddin, I.H. Abdullah & I. Aman (eds), 278–293. Bangi, Malaysia:Penerbit UKM.Google Scholar
Topping, D.M
1990 A dialect survey of the Land Dayaks of Sarawak. Paper presented at First Biennial Conference of the Borneo Research Council , Kuching, August 1990.
UNESCO
2003 Education in a multilingual world. UNESCO education position paper. [URL]
Cited by

Cited by 1 other publications

Haji-Othman, Noor Azam & James McLellan
2021. Researching Borneo Language Description, Language Maintenance and Language Shift. In Fieldwork and the Self [Asia in Transition, 12], ► pp. 291 ff. DOI logo

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 19 march 2024. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.