![]() ![]() ![]() The official and national language in Malaysia is Malay, or Bahasa Malaysia, and is "the basis for national integration." 1 However, the Government of Malaysia recognized the importance of English as an international language and added that "measures will be taken to ensure that English is taught as a strong second language." These people belong to various indigenous communities which come under the Austronesian as well as the Austro-Asiatic languages. In addition, there are dozens of minority languages spoken all over the country in the peninsula, as well as on the island of Borneo, where the two states of Sabah and Sarawak are located. Within each, there are several dialects or variations of the main language. Many know that the country consists of three main ethnic groups: Malays, Chinese, and Indians. ![]() Multi-ethnic Malaysia is renowned for its success in maintaining a harmonious balance among its people. This is to ensure that their children will have a head start as they enter primary or even pre-school. Studies show that mothers, the primary supporters of education in most families, take pains to raise their children in the "school" language, rather than their own native tongue. However, in the pursuit of attaining competence in the language of "commodity" and "enterprise," many minority languages and even cultures are sometimes sacrificed. This is necessary for the obvious reason that a common language would create solidarity and instil a sense of national identity and pride. How far do we go in implementing language policies into the education system so as to integrate a nation's peoples? Nearly all nations identify and determine at least one language as the official language, and some include another as the national language. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |