Article published in:
Writing Systems: Past, present (… and future?)
Edited by Terry Joyce and Robert Crellin
[Written Language & Literacy 22:2] 2019
► pp. 280–306

Developing a unified orthography for Berawan

An endangered Bornean language

| Sunway University
| University Putra Malaysia
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.
Keywords: endangered languages, unified orthography, Borneo, Austronesian, Berawan
Published online: 30 March 2020
https://doi.org/10.1075/wll.00029.bur
References

[ p. 299 ]References

Blust, Robert A.
(1974) The Proto-North Sarawak vowel deletion hypothesis. (PhD dissertation). University of Hawaii, Manoa, Hawaii.Google Scholar
(2010) The Greater North Borneo hypothesis. Oceanic Linguistics 49(1), 44–118. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Borneo Post Online
(2011, November 16). Berawan association holds annual general meeting. http://​www​.theborneopost​.com​/2011​/11​/16​/berawan​-association​-holds​-annual​-general​-meeting/
(2016, June 16). Berawans showcase culture at Pesta Gelimeh. http://​www​.theborneopost​.com​/2016​/06​/15​/berawans​-showcase​-culture​-at​-pestagelimeh/
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
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
Burkhardt, Jürgen M.
(2014) The reconstruction of the phonology of Proto-Berawan. (PhD dissertation). Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main.Google Scholar
Cahill, Michael, & Elke Karan
(2008) Factors in designing effective orthographies for unwritten languages. Dallas: SIL International.Google Scholar
Fishman, Joshua A.
(1991) Reversing language shift. Clevedon, Avon: Multilingual Matters.Google Scholar
Gudschinsky, Sarah
(1973) A manual of literacy for preliterate peoples. Ukarumpa, PNG: SIL.Google Scholar
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
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
Lüpke, Friederike
(2011) Orthography development. In Peter K. Austin & Julia Sallabank (eds.), Handbook of endangered languages, 312–336. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Malone, Susan
(ed.) (2004) Manual for developing literacy and adult education programmes in minority language communities. Bangkok, UNESCO.Google Scholar
Pike, Kenneth L.
(1947) Phonemics: A technique for reducing languages to writing. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.Google Scholar
Rempel, Robin
(1995) Alphabet development guide. Read 30 (2):27–37.Google Scholar
Rempel, Robin, James Gasaway & Denise Potts
(2000) Alphabet Development Worksheet for socio-linguistic orthography. MS. PNG Branch.Google Scholar
Simons, Gary F. & Charles D. Fennig
(eds.) (2018) Ethnologue: Languages of the world, Twenty-first edition. Dallas, Texas: SIL International. Online version: http://​www​.ethnologue​.com
Smalley, William A.
(1959) How shall I write this language? The Bible Translator 10(2): 49–69. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
(1965) Orthographic studies: Articles on new writing systems. London: United Bible Societies.Google Scholar
Venezky, Richard L.
(2004) In search of the perfect orthography. Written Language & Literacy 7(2): 139–163.Google Scholar
[ p. 300 ]