Pemilihan Bahasa dalam kalangan generasi muda masyarakat Dusun Tambunan

• Main Author: Adeline, Anthony
• Format: Final Year Project Report
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, (UNIMAS) 2017
• Subjects: PI Oriental languages and literatures
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/34124/3/Adeline%20Anthony%20ft.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/34124/
• Institution: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

This study was carried out with the aim to investigate language choices of younger generation of an ethnic community in Sabah, i. e. Dusun. The study was conducted in Tambunan, a district with a population estimated 35,667. The main objective of the study was to identify the language choices of the younger generation in various domains: home, social, education (school), work, and religion. The study also compares the language choices of the respondents based on various variables, and identify, factors that have influenced their choices. Data of the study was collected by means of a questionnaire, interview and participant observation. There were 30 respondents involved in the questionnaire, and 8 respondents were further interviewed to examine factors for their language choices. In addition, general observations of language choices in two domains were also carried out i. e. home and religion. The study shows that the most dominant language choice patterns preferred by the respondents were bilingual Dusun-Malay in all domains with the exception of the domain of religion. Monolingual Dusun pattern of choice is most preferred with grandparents whereas monolingual Malay pattern of choice is preferred with siblings and in the domain of religion. Although the use of the Malay language in various domains has increased, the position of ' the mother tongue within the community is still safe. The Dusun language is still the dominant language not only for communication with family members but also. for work and school purposes. The mother tongue is still dominant in the "low" as well as the "high " domain. This preliminary findings show that major language i. e. Malay in this case, does not necessarily lead to the demise of smaller languages i. e. Dusun. In this study, the younger generation Dusun have become multilinguals.