Inter-racial marriages ‘pollute’ languages
by Zoee Hillson reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on June 14, 2011, Tuesday
COLLABORATION: Wan Zain (seated centre) stressing a point to Utusan Borneo Iban Desk editors Empawi Jabat (seated left) and Edwin (seated right). Also seen are organising committee members Mathias Kassap (background left) and Churchill Edward. — Photo by Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING: Inter-racial marriages may have contributed to the pollution of local languages, said Malaysian Parents Consultative Association (Mapin) Sarawak chief Wan Zain Syed Mohdzar.
Wan Zain however said this can be curbed by parents understanding the importance of preserving and developing their own languages before they get polluted by all sorts of jargon and slangs.
He thus commended Utusan Borneo Iban Section for intending to hold a Dayak Forum on the evolution of the Iban language.
Wan Zain made the remarks yesterday when paying a courtesy call on the paper as well as to accept Utusan Borneo Iban Section’s request to work closely together on the forum.
He said the forum should highlight classic as well as contemporary Iban words to the public, apart from the history and development of the language.
“The idea is to preserve and develop the Iban language so that it will not deteriorate further. This idea should also apply to other races including the Malay, Melanau, Chinese and other ethnic races who must be proud of their languages,” he said.
“Inter-marriage is one of the contributing factors of pollution of languages. But this can be curbed and one of the ways to do it is to make parents understand the importance of preserving one’s own language at home and in public places. Only then can they help in developing them further,” he pointed out.
Wan Zain said a person appreciates his identity, culture, community and economy only when he understands his own language, its evolution and history, adding that to increase knowledge of certain languages, one only needs to listen to appropriate radio or television shows.
“For instance, there should be more local news in Iban on radio and television. One can learn by listening to them,” he said.
The upcoming forum, he said, should be successful so that it would be a model for other groups, pointing out that languages could be developed without endangering racial harmony and unity in the spirit of 1Malaysia.
Wan Zain has been appointed co-organising chairman of the forum.
The other co-organisers are Utusan Borneo Iban Desk editor Edwin Jemat and Ministry of Social Development and Urbanisation (KPSU) assistant principal secretary Hamdan Sharbini.
It is jointly organised by Mapin Sarawak with Utusan Borneo Iban Section in collaboration with KPSU. The group will have a meeting this afternoon at a hotel here to further discuss the collaboration.
The Dayak Forum is tentatively fixed to be held in the middle of September this year at a venue to be decided later.
by Zoee Hillson reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on June 14, 2011, Tuesday
COLLABORATION: Wan Zain (seated centre) stressing a point to Utusan Borneo Iban Desk editors Empawi Jabat (seated left) and Edwin (seated right). Also seen are organising committee members Mathias Kassap (background left) and Churchill Edward. — Photo by Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING: Inter-racial marriages may have contributed to the pollution of local languages, said Malaysian Parents Consultative Association (Mapin) Sarawak chief Wan Zain Syed Mohdzar.
Wan Zain however said this can be curbed by parents understanding the importance of preserving and developing their own languages before they get polluted by all sorts of jargon and slangs.
He thus commended Utusan Borneo Iban Section for intending to hold a Dayak Forum on the evolution of the Iban language.
Wan Zain made the remarks yesterday when paying a courtesy call on the paper as well as to accept Utusan Borneo Iban Section’s request to work closely together on the forum.
He said the forum should highlight classic as well as contemporary Iban words to the public, apart from the history and development of the language.
“The idea is to preserve and develop the Iban language so that it will not deteriorate further. This idea should also apply to other races including the Malay, Melanau, Chinese and other ethnic races who must be proud of their languages,” he said.
“Inter-marriage is one of the contributing factors of pollution of languages. But this can be curbed and one of the ways to do it is to make parents understand the importance of preserving one’s own language at home and in public places. Only then can they help in developing them further,” he pointed out.
Wan Zain said a person appreciates his identity, culture, community and economy only when he understands his own language, its evolution and history, adding that to increase knowledge of certain languages, one only needs to listen to appropriate radio or television shows.
“For instance, there should be more local news in Iban on radio and television. One can learn by listening to them,” he said.
The upcoming forum, he said, should be successful so that it would be a model for other groups, pointing out that languages could be developed without endangering racial harmony and unity in the spirit of 1Malaysia.
Wan Zain has been appointed co-organising chairman of the forum.
The other co-organisers are Utusan Borneo Iban Desk editor Edwin Jemat and Ministry of Social Development and Urbanisation (KPSU) assistant principal secretary Hamdan Sharbini.
It is jointly organised by Mapin Sarawak with Utusan Borneo Iban Section in collaboration with KPSU. The group will have a meeting this afternoon at a hotel here to further discuss the collaboration.
The Dayak Forum is tentatively fixed to be held in the middle of September this year at a venue to be decided later.
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