MALAY DIALECT VARIANTS IN LANGKAWI: A DIACHRONIC PERSPECTIVE ANALYSIS

Norfazila  Ab. Hamid; Shahidi  A. Hamid; Rahim  Aman; Norhasliza  Ramli; Zulayti  Zakaria; Ery  Iswary

doi:10.24200/jonus.vol7iss1pp142-167

Norfazila Ab. Hamid Department of Civilization and Human Potential, Kolej Universiti Islam Selangor Bandar Seri Putra, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5460-9888
Shahidi A.H. Centre for Research in Malay Language, Literature and Culture, Faculty of social Sciences & Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4520-7585
Rahim Aman Centre for Research in Malay Language, Literature and Culture, Faculty of social Sciences & Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3897-4498
Norhasliza Ramli Department of Civilization and Human Potential, Kolej Universiti Islam Selangor Bandar Seri Putra, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4129-9681
Zulayti Zakaria Pertubuhan Seni Gayong Serantau Malaysia, 8-10, Plaza Azalea, 6 Persiaran Bandaraya, 40000 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9352-1937
Ery Iswary Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Univ Hasanuddin (UNHAS) Jln Perintis Kemerdekaan No. Km 10, Tamalanrea 90245 Sulawesi Selatan, Indonesia. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8193-3029

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol7iss1pp142-167

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Dialectical studies scrutinised the closeness, kinship or genealogy of dialects derived from a language. Previous scholars divide Malay dialects in Peninsular Malaysia into four main clusters. The first cluster are the Johor-Melaka-Selangor and Central Perak. The second cluster is a group that spreads from the Patani region covering the Patani-Kelantan-Terengganu dialect. The third is the Negeri Sembilan cluster, and the fourth is the Kedah dialect. Generally, the Kedah dialect is divided into seven groups, covering Kedah (including Langkawi), Perlis, Penang and northern Perak Taiping. This study aims to investigate the Malay dialect variants in Langkawi Island via the Historical Linguistics approach and qualitative comparison research design.

Methodology: This study utilised the qualitative research method. A total of 23 native speakers of Langkawi Malay dialect participated in this study. These informants were selected using NORM (an acronym for non-mobile, older, rural and males). Data collection mainly used several techniques such as interviews, recordings, and observations. The data were analysed based on the scope of comparative linguistics.

Findings: The findings show that there are five characteristics of separated innovation between the Kuah and Air Hangat variants in one group and the Kedawang variant in other groups. Furthermore, there are nine innovations that separate the Langkawi Malay dialect from the Proto Malayik language. This study indicates that the Kedawang variant is an earlier variant apart from the Kuah and Air Hangat variants.

Contributions: In addition to further strengthen the research on the various dialects spoken in Malaysia, this study attempts to highlight the complete description of the Kedah dialect varieties. This study also contributes to the science of Malay language variants and Malay Dialectology studies.

Keywords: Historical linguistics, reconstruction, innovation, Langkawi Island, Malay dialect.

Cite as: Ab. Hamid, N., Shahidi, A. H., Aman, R., Ramli, N., Zakaria, Z., & Iswary, E. (2022). Malay dialect variants in Langkawi: A diachronic perspective analysis. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 7(1), 142-167. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol7iss1pp142-167

Author Biographies

Norfazila Ab. Hamid, Department of Civilization and Human Potential, Kolej Universiti Islam Selangor Bandar Seri Putra, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia.

Norfazila Ab. Hamid is a senior lecturer at the Malay Language Unit, Department of Civilization and Human Potential, Centre of Core Studies, Kolej Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Selangor, Malaysia. Her specialization is Historical Comparative Linguistics and Dialectology.

Shahidi A.H., Centre for Research in Malay Language, Literature and Culture, Faculty of social Sciences & Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.

Shahidi A.H. is an associate professor at the Center for Research in Malay Language, Literature and Culture (Bitara Melayu), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia. His expertise is in Malay Phonology and Dialectology.

Rahim Aman, Centre for Research in Malay Language, Literature and Culture, Faculty of social Sciences & Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.

Rahim Aman is a professor at the Center for Research in Malay Language, Literature and Culture (Bitara Melayu), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia. His expertise is in Historical Comparative Linguistics and Dialectology.

Norhasliza Ramli, Department of Civilization and Human Potential, Kolej Universiti Islam Selangor Bandar Seri Putra, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia.

Norhasliza Ramli a lecturer at the Malay Language Unit, Department of Civilization and Human Potential, Centre of Core Studies, Kolej Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Selangor, Malaysia. Her specialization is in Discourse Analysis.

Zulayti Zakaria, Pertubuhan Seni Gayong Serantau Malaysia, 8-10, Plaza Azalea, 6 Persiaran Bandaraya, 40000 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.

Zulayti Zakaria is a PhD holder in Malay Historical-Culture Studies from the Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Terengganu, Malaysia.

Ery Iswary, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Univ Hasanuddin (UNHAS) Jln Perintis Kemerdekaan No. Km 10, Tamalanrea 90245 Sulawesi Selatan, Indonesia.

Ery iswary is a lecturer in the Regional Literature Department, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar, Indonesia. Her areas of expertise are Linguistic Anthropology and Semantics-Pragmatics.

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