Spelling of place names in Malay

Many of the people in Malaysia have expressed their dissatisfaction over the spelling of places in Malay as the spelling does not adhere to the Sistem Ejaan Baharu which was introduced in the Malay Language to replace the older spelling system known as Ejaan Lama. The guidelines to spelling in Malay is explained clearly in the booklet called Pedoman Umum Ejaan Bahasa Malaysia, published by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) in 1975.

As a linguist, let me explain that the existing names of places in Malay need not adhere to the spelling rule as stated in the Sistem Ejaan Baharu, prescribed by DBP, the guardian of the Malay Language and national language of Malaysia. According to DBP, the rule is only applicable to names of places after the year 1972. This means names of places will be retained in the original spelling as before. For example, the name of the place Air Itam in Penang and Air Hitam in Johor will be spelt as it was.  Likewise, names like Kota Bharu, Johor Bahru and Kuala Kubu Baharu will be spelt accordingly. Places like Tronoh, Bachok, Batu Anam, and Kuching, too will also retain the original spelling, and not spelt as Teronoh, Bacuk, Batu Enam and Kucing.  So, it warrants no change to the spelling of old names of places.  

DBP further explains that the geographic nomenclature of names of places that existed before 1972 will be retained by its original spelling. Naming a new place name now, that is, after 1972 needs to follow the coordinated Malay spelling. So, names of new places will be spelt according the rules of the language after the year 1972. We have new places like Iskandar Puteri in Johor, Setia Alam in Selangor, Bandar Indera Mahkota in Pahang, Seri Iskandar in Perak, and Hang Tuah Jaya in Melaka which are spelt according to the stipulated rule now.

I also wish to clarify that the determination of place names is not decided by DBP, but rather by the local authority of a state. The name will be decided after some considerations by the local authority. As previously mentioned, place names before 1972 retained the original spelling and place names after 1972 will  be spelled with the official spelling structure of the Malay language.

I hope this simple explanation clears the erroneous view of the people in the country about spelling of Malay names of places.

Be proud of Bahasa Malaysia

The National Language Month (Bulan Bahasa Kebangsaan) has commenced in October this year, as an annual event under the patronage of Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, the guardian of the Malay Language.

The Director General of DBP, Dr Hj Awang Sariyan in his recent speech at the official launching of the National Language Month (BBK) in Tangkak, Johor, said the government has agreed to extend the celebrations until the end of the year. This clearly shows the concern and commitment on the part of government to promote the good use of BM among its citizens.

Bahasa Melayu, the official language and national language of Malaysia since independence should be given due recognition as the sole national language in the usage by Malaysian society at large.

It is sad to notice although born and breed here, many Malaysian do not speak the language efficiently and well. The use of bahasa rojak or code switching when speaking bahasa Melayu is prevalent among speakers of Malay Language, especially the younger generations.

We, as Malaysian should be proud of our national language. Lackadaisical attitude prevalent among fellow Malaysian towards the BM should not be excused. The national language should be used extensively and widely in all the interactions among Malaysians, whether it a public or private occasions.

In that respect, we should respect the Indonesians for their patriotism in the use of Bahasa Indonesia widely. I remember last year when my wife and I checked into a hotel in Lake Toba, we were greeted with ‘Selamat Sore bapak (Good evening, Sir) not ‘Good evening, sir’ although we were tourists.

This hardly happens in Malaysia. In most encounters, we are greeted ‘Good Morning’ or ‘Good evening’ by the receptionist when we check-in at a local hotel in Malaysia despite the fact that we are Malaysian, who understand the language well. What’s wrong if the receptionist greet the hotel quests in Malay, like ‘Selamat datang’ or “Selamat petang’?

The BBK is annual reminder initiated by DBP to the fellow Malaysian to love the language and use it correctly and with pride in all occasions, in our interactions with fellow Malaysians.  Use of correct language should not be contemplated during the celebrations only, but rather  throughout time. As a Malaysian and a Malay linguist, I advocate to all Malaysians,  let’s love our own national language, the second mother-tongue.

Influx of Foreign words into Malay vocabulary

Of late, many are lamenting on the influx of foreign words into Malay vocabulary. As a Malay linguist, allow me to explain this linguistic phenomenon so that readers can understand the development occurring in the Malay Language.

First, we need to accept the fact that influx of foreign words into a language is a natural phenomenon. All languages, including English Language has borrowed voluminously from other languages. About 80% of the words found in the English Language are foreign words.

Words like antenna, bangle, cassette, guerrilla, nirvana, pizza, and schizophrenia are words from Latin, Hindi, French, Spanish, Sanskrit, Italian and Greek respectively. Languages need to accept foreign words or borrow words to survive. Likewise, the Malay Language has borrowed hundreds of words from foreign languages, like Sanskrit, Persian, Arab, Tamil, Chinese, and lately English words.

We have borrowed words like asrama, dewan, solat, katil and tongkang comfortably in the past and these words have assimilated into Malay vocabulary. Many users probably do not know that they are actually Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, Tamil and Chinese words respectively.

In the process of modernization of Bahasa Malaysia, our national languages, new words have been coined or borrowed words to enable the language to become a modern and compatible language like any other languages of the world. Many new fields have developed in the Malay Language and we need words to describe the concept and new ideas in Malay. As we do not have the appropriate words, we either coin or borrow words from other language to enable to express the new ideas and concepts in Malay.

As Malaysians, we should learn to accept the influx of foreign words, especially English words. This is a healthy trend in the Malay Language, like what is happening in any other modern languages of the words. Accepting foreign words in not done in a haphazard or according to the whims and fancies of a Malay user. It is actually according to stipulated rules and regulations specified by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, the guardian of the Malay Language.

Borrowed words need to adjusted to the Malay sound system and spelling of the Language. So, words like account, discussion, and productivity when borrowed in Malay need to be changed into akaun, diskusi, and produktiviti in line with rules of the phonological rules of the Malay Language.

On the question why we need akaun when we have already words in the language like kira-kira. In vocabulary, there are two types of words, common words and specific words or terms. The word kira-kira is a common word, but we use akaun as a term in a specific usage in the economic and accounting domain.  

Besides, in languages alternative words or synonymic words are always created or coined to enable the languages to express ideas and thoughts using different words, like aktiviti and kegiatan, kereta api and tren, and program and atur cara.

The influx of foreign words into Malay Language, do not mean we making it a rojak language. As explained earlier, foreign words are carefully assimilated into Malay according to language rules and regulations.  Let us see these trend a healthy linguistic phenomena, not an alarming one. 

Negative connotation of the word janda in Malay

I refer to the recent debate of the word janda for widow in Malay. There has been a proposal to use armalah, an Arabic term, instead of janda to refer to widows in Malay.

As a linguist, allow me to comment on this issue. In languages, there exists a concept called euphemism, which means word having derogatory or unpleasant connotation replaced by users with another word.

For example, word like jamban has been replaced with tandas, and now lately with bilik air in Malay. Although the word jamban and tandas exist in the Malay vocabulary now, but there seems preference for the compound word bilik air.

As to the word janda, it has been use since a long time, and of course a familiar word among users of Malay Language. Way back in 1812, there is an entry of the word janda which means ‘widow’ in the English and Malayan Dictionary, complied by William Marsden. So, the word janda is actually an equivalent to the concept widow in Malay.

Words cannot be replaced according to whims and fancies of users of a language. Words survive and thrive, and at times become extinct when the usage of a particular word becomes minimal or not preferred by users. If the word falls out of use, then slowly and gradually, the word fades out from the common vocabulary. It will then become a passive word in the vocabulary of the language.

So, we need not worry about the negative connotation of the word as claimed by certain quarters. It is just a word to denote a married women whose husband has passed away, or separated legally. Of course, the perception of a widow is different between a man and a woman.  That doesn’t mean there is a negative connotation for the word janda. Leave the word alone and time will tell us whether the word is a preferred word or not in time to come. All languages evolve and change all along the way, including vocabulary of language.

The word armalah is comparatively a new word to be introduced into the Malay language. It is not even listed in Kamus Dewan, 4th edition, the latest Malay dictionary produced by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka in 2005. Perhaps, it will take a while to acclimatize the word by the Malay users.  

To accept a word or reject a word is all in the hands of the users of a language. Whether the word  janda stands or disappears, it depends on the users of the language. After all, not many people are unhappy about the word. It is always a matter of choice in language. So, if armalah is introduced, it will be just an alternative word for janda in Malay.

Use of mantan in Malay

I refer to the news ‘Mantan’ not accurate, says Rais’ NST June 8.  It is rather a surprise when Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said the word mantan, a word borrowed from Indonesia is not an appropriate word for the English word ‘ex’ or ‘former’. 

When consulted Kamus Dewan, Edisi Keempat, the latest edition, the entry of the word mantan is explained as follows: ‘dahulunya pernah menjawat jawatan tertentu, tetapi sekarang tidak lagi, bekas’.  It could be perhaps translated in English as follow: ‘previously held a specific post, but not now, former’. 

 The Online Indonesian-English Dictionaries  also cite ‘former’ in English as the equivalent meaning to mantan. I know that this word has been in use quite recently as the earlier versions of Kamus Dewan do not have the entry of the word mantan before 2005.  The Indonesian word has probably entered Bahasa Malaysia vocabulary some years ago. As there is doubt about the correct usage of the word,  the origin of the word need to be traced and its meaning ascertained.  

I hope Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, the guardian of the Malay Language could clarify this issue by making an appropriate statement. Such an announcement is crucial as the word is popular and widely used in Malay, in writing and speaking among Malay speakers.  Such clarification is also important especially in the context of teaching and learning in schools and other learning institutions.