Singho holds up a copy of ‘Come Let’s Learn Portuguese Malaka’. – KAMARUL ARIFFIN/The Star
THERE is a saying that in saving a language, one also preserves a culture.
StarMetro meets linguists, individuals and associations who have taken on this cause.
According to Ethnologue, a reference on all the world’s known languages, there are 111 living languages in Malaysia.
However, 93 of them have been classified as endangered, with two being extinct.
Call for preservation
Linguist Prof Dr Stefanie Pillai said Malaysia needed a national database or repository where all languages spoken in the country can be placed for future reference.
Pages from three of the children’s books published by Sarah showcasing basic Kelabit words.
The availability of such a facility will not only help preserve them, but also serve as useful reference points for research, said the professor from Universiti Malaya (UM) Faculty of Languages and Linguistics.
“Most of the languages at risk of dying belong to the indigenous groups like the Kensiu, which only has a population of about 300 in Baling, Kedah or the Orang Kanaq with less than 150 people in Johor,” said Prof Pillai, 58.
Though some may argue that languages also have their life cycles, Prof Pillai said if a language is still in existence and the older generation are still around to pass it on, it would be a pity to lose it when there is still a chance for the language to be recorded.
“In studies done overseas, indications have shown that communities who have lost their language may also lose their sense of self and become marginalised, leading to issues such as lack of confidence and possible decline in well-being,” she said.
In her 30-year career, Prof Pillai’s work has included the documentation of the Melaka Portuguese or Kristang language.
She also edited a book The Mousedeer and the Crocodiles, a Malaysian Folktake in 100 Languages to commemorate the 50th anniversary of UM’s language faculty.
A copy of ‘The Mousedeer and the Crocodiles, a Malaysian Folktale in 100 Languages’ edited by Prof Pillai.The 99 translations of the folktale include indigenous languages like Mah Meri, Iban and Bajau.
She said for a start, the gathering of data could begin with narratives such as stories, rituals and traditional planting and hunting techniques so the wisdom can be preserved.
Next is to look into the respective language systems such as grammar and pronunciation so that the information and content can be compiled into either a dictionary or be used to form a syllabus.
“But for such a project to take off, the community has to be involved. They must take charge and decide whether they want their language to live, or not,” she said.
Indigenous calling
Among those working passionately to save her native tongue, is Kuala Lumpur born Sarah Lois Dorai, 32.
The film director, who is of Kelabit descent, has published three children’s books in her native language.
Zeckqualine is compiling a word list of the Punan language.Sarah was inspired by her aunt, Lucy Bulan during a trip back to Sarawak.
The former principal of SMK Bario was known for her efforts to revitalise, document and preserve the Kelabit language that is listed as endangered on Ethnologue.
“Lucy and her son, David Lian Labang, were creating materials to teach Kelabit to children in Bario. Lian was previously working on a word list as well as handling an online community group to connect with Kelabit people throughout the world,” said Sarah.
The film director’s most vivid memory is a message imparted by her now late aunt, who died of cancer in 2021.
“We were sitting down over a meal when Lucy revealed that hers was the first generation to receive an education. She told me that one of my grandfather’s wishes was to help the community. When she died, this story struck a chord with me,” said Sarah.
Wanting to contribute to her aunt’s legacy, Sarah secured a RM60,000 grant from the Sarawak Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Ministry (MTCP) in 2022 to publish the three books.
Sarah has published three children’s books in Kelabit. – GRACE CHEN/The StarA total of 1,500 copies were published, introducing young readers to beginner level Kelabit vocabulary such as numbers, family members and parts of the face. The books were distributed by MTCP to libraries throughout Sarawak.
Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) Datuk Gerawat Gala sponsored and donated the books to several schools, the Bario District Council Library, Sarawak State Library and Rurum Kelabit Sarawak, a community association.
The positive response has motivated Sarah to plan on another collection of 30 children’s books in the Kelabit language. For now her focus is on a title called The First 100 Kelabit Words.
Keeping Kristang alive
Passion is what drives people to preserve a language, said Malacca-Portuguese Eurasian Association president Michael Gerard Singho, 69.
Singho, who speaks fluent Melaka Portuguese (colloquially referred to as Kristang), described his native language as a precious little gem to the community.
Keeping the Punan language alive during a cultural event at the Punan Bah longhouse at Belaga last December. – Courtesy pic
“Be it in the written or spoken form, language is an inherent part of any ethnic community’s identity,” said Singho, who grew up in the Portuguese Settlement at Ujong Pasir in Melaka.
Currently, the settlement’s population is about 1,500 with an additional 300 in the periphery, he said.
In Ethnologue, Kristang is indicated as an endangered language.
“I realised this when I first came to Kuala Lumpur in 1975. As more of us came out of the settlement, there were less speakers of the language. So as a first step, I made it a point to speak Kristang whenever I met with family, relatives and friends who were of the same descent,” said Singho.
Undeterred by fluency issues, Singho recalled how he would resort to speaking slowly, taking time to explain the meaning of the words.
When Singho became president of the Malacca-Portuguese Eurasian Association (MPEA) in 2001, he formed a language issue committee.
Members set up physical Kristang classes for students aged between 10 and 15 years at the Portuguese Settlement. They were held at the open-air stage complex from 4pm to 5pm every Saturday.
The late Noel Felix, who was head of Tropa de Malaca, a cultural group, headed the classes. Singho’s sister, Philomena and another settlement resident Sara Frederica Santa Maria also taught at these classes until 2017.
Singho said there were others who were like-minded in preserving the language.
“A long-time resident of the settlement, the late Patrick de Silva authored A Dictionary of Kristang with Alan Baxter that was published by the Australia National University in 2004.
“A member of our language group, Christine Danker now gives free online Kristang classes at 8.30pm every Monday through Zoom,” said Singho.
The textbook used in Danker’s online Kristang classes was written and published with the help of Prof Pillai.
“In 2014, Prof Pillai, who has Melaka Portuguese heritage, worked with the community to produce a Kristang CD of Christian prayers in 2014, a language textbook Come Let’s Learn Portuguese Malaka published in 2016, and a children’s book Nina Boboi based on a lullaby published in 2020. Philomena and Sara, worked with her on the three projects,” said Singho.
Prof Pillai also said she received a grant of £10,000 (RM59,787.30) from the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies’ endangered languages documentation programme to record and document the Kristang language.
She subsequently received community engagement grants that supported the development of the CD, books and also BibePortMal, a Kristang dictionary with almost 3,000 words condensed into a mobile app.
In 2018, Singho set up the ‘Malacca Portuguese Language Commission’ as a regulatory body in the preservation and literary growth of the language.
“We are now trying to get funds to produce volume two of Come Let’s Learn Portuguese Malaka and are planning and organising a series of physical classes for the future.Preserving Punan language
A 50-minute flight from Kuching to Bintulu, followed by a five-hour journey by road to the Punan Bah longhouse in Belaga — this journey has been taken twice by Zeckqualine Melai, 40, to compile a word list of the Punan language, for her doctorate thesis.
The language teacher from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak’s Education, Language and Communication faculty started in 2019, with the goal of having enough for a dictionary.
So far, she has written and recorded audios of 742 Punan words and the meanings in Bahasa Malaysia.
“The journeys to the longhouse were necessary to double confirm the spelling and to check with the elders on how the words are related to a sentence. The work is still in progress,” she said.
The most important aspect of language preservation lies with its society, said Zeckqualine.
“No matter how many workshops and programmes are carried out, if the society does not speak or use it, the language will die off. Parents play an important role. They must pass the language on to their children at home,” she said.
Meanwhile Zeckqualine managed to get the help of her uncles Donny Dhwie, 45, and Calvin Jemarang, 50. They are respectively president and founding member of the Punan National Association (PNA) that was registered in 2007.
According to Calvin, an informal census in 2020, estimated 6,000 Punans in Malaysia.
In terms of language, he said the Punan had three dialects, two of which were extinct.
“The one spoken in Tatau has less than 200 speakers today. As such, the main dialect for this ethnic group is Punan Bah Biau,” he said.
Ethnologue has classified this indigenous language as stable.
According to Donny, PNA is working with the MTCP to promote Punan heritage.
“In terms of language, exposure is being given to the reciting of poems known as ‘mu’a’ that are related to Punan myths and legends.
“The words in these poems are more flowery than everyday Punan language.
“The elders in the longhouse have recorded these poems together with translations for the younger generation.
“The same is also being done for the prayers (‘besetuou’) for our dead ancestors,” added Donny.
