Developing a unified orthography for Berawan
An endangered Bornean language
Berawan is a small ethnic community, numbering fewer than 4,000 members, in the Malaysian state of Sarawak on
Borneo Island. There are four language varieties; namely, Long Jegan (LJG), Batu Belah (BB), Long Teru (LTU) and Long Terawan
(LTN). This paper describes the development of the preliminary unified Berawan orthography by the authors, in collaboration with
representatives from three Berawan communities (BB, LTU and LJG). Smalley’s (
1959,
1965) criteria for orthography development are discussed in relation to the
authors’ stage framework for orthographic development, which has been adapted from
Rempel
(1995) within the context of developing the Berawan orthography and the orthographic decisions made by the Berawan. Two
additional factors for orthography implementation are proposed. The first stresses the importance of adequate testing, which is
essential for both obtaining objective measurements to inform decision making and establishing a well-designed and effective
orthography. The second new factor emphasizes the importance of having sufficient time available to learn the developed
orthography.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 1.1The Berawan language family
- 1.2Background to orthography development for Berawan
- 1.3Aims and objectives
- 2.Conceptual framework
- 2.1Design criteria
- 2.2Implementation criteria
- 2.3Development stages
- 3.Results and discussion
- 3.1Design criteria
- 3.1.1Criterion 1: Maximum motivation for the learner
- 3.1.2Criterion 2: Maximum representation of speech
- 3.1.3Criterion 3: Maximum ease of learning
- 3.1.4Criterion 4: Maximum transfer
- 3.1.5Criterion 5: Maximum ease of reproduction
- 3.2Implementation criteria
- 3.2.1Adequate testing
- 3.2.2Sufficient time
- 3.3Development stages
- 4.Conclusion
- Notes
-
References
References (21)
References
Blust, Robert A. (1974). The Proto-North Sarawak vowel deletion hypothesis. (PhD dissertation). University of Hawaii, Manoa, Hawaii.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Blust, Robert A. (2010). The Greater North Borneo hypothesis. Oceanic Linguistics 49(1), 44–118. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Borneo Post Online. (2011, November 16). Berawan association holds annual general meeting. [URL]
Borneo Post Online. (2016, June 16). Berawans showcase culture at Pesta Gelimeh. [URL]
Burkhardt, Jey L., & Jűrgen M. Burkhardt. (2017). Then and now: Changes in social organisation and livelihood of the Berawan community since the formation of Malaysia. The Journal of Borneo Kalimantan 3(1), 55–66.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Burkhardt, Jey L., Jonas Noeb, & Robert Sulis Ridu. (2017). The Bidayuh Mountain Framework: An indigenous model of reversing language shift (RLS). In Selected papers of the Bidayuh Language Development and Preservation Project (2003–2017), 47–66. Dayak Bidayuh National Association, Kuching, Sarawak.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Burkhardt, Jürgen M. (2014). The reconstruction of the phonology of Proto-Berawan. (PhD dissertation). Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Cahill, Michael, & Elke Karan. (2008). Factors in designing effective orthographies for unwritten languages. Dallas: SIL International.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Fishman, Joshua A. (1991). Reversing language shift. Clevedon, Avon: Multilingual Matters.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Gudschinsky, Sarah. (1973). A manual of literacy for preliterate peoples. Ukarumpa, PNG: SIL.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Hasselbring, Sue. (2005). It is for us! The acceptance of writing systems in minority languages. Fourth Pan-African Reading for All Conference. Ezulwini, Swaziland.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Karan, Elke. (2014). Standardization: What’s the hurry? In Michael Cahill & Keren Rice (eds.), Developing orthographies for unwritten languages (
Publications in language use and education, 6.) 107–138. Dallas: SIL International.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Lüpke, Friederike. (2011). Orthography development. In Peter K. Austin & Julia Sallabank (eds.), Handbook of endangered languages, 312–336. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Malone, Susan (ed.) (2004). Manual for developing literacy and adult education programmes in minority language communities. Bangkok, UNESCO.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Pike, Kenneth L. (1947). Phonemics: A technique for reducing languages to writing. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Rempel, Robin. (1995). Alphabet development guide. Read 30 (2):27–37.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Rempel, Robin, James Gasaway & Denise Potts. (2000). Alphabet Development Worksheet for socio-linguistic orthography. MS. PNG Branch.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Simons, Gary F. & Charles D. Fennig (eds.) (2018). Ethnologue: Languages of the world, Twenty-first edition. Dallas, Texas: SIL International. Online version: [URL]
Smalley, William A. (1959). How shall I write this language? The Bible Translator 10(2): 49–69. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Smalley, William A. (1965). Orthographic studies: Articles on new writing systems. London: United Bible Societies.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Venezky, Richard L. (2004). In search of the perfect orthography. Written Language & Literacy 7(2): 139–163.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Cited by (1)
Cited by one other publication
Burkhardt, Jürgen Martin , Jey Lingam Burkhardt & Ang Lay Hoon
2020.
One Orthography, Four Lects: The Unified Berawan Orthography.
Journal of Borneo-Kalimantan 6:1
![DOI logo](//benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
This list is based on CrossRef data as of 5 july 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.