Mohamad SYAHRUL NİZAM IBRAHİM, Mohd Ibrani SHAHRİMİN ADAM ASSİM, Shazali JOHARİ, Syarifah JOHARİ KAMARİAH WAN MOHAMMAD, Suziana HASSAN

PERCEPTION ON PENAN'S OROO’ LANGUAGE AMONG LOCAL COMMUNITY AT BATU BUNGAN, MULU, SARAWAK, MALAYSIA

Oroo’ secret sign language is a medium that has been used to communicate in the forest among Penan community. It is threatened language and identified as living cultural heritage that has high potential to be promoted as a major tourism product in the World Heritage Site, Mulu. However, the local level appreciation on their cultural elements is a question that would have implications for this language to become extinct imminently. Thus, this study aims to examine perception on the importance of Oroo’ language among Penan community at Batu Bungan. This exploration was conducted through a qualitative approach with personal interview with two Penans who are tribal chief and boatman who lived at the settlement. They were identified as key informants due to their active involvement and grown in the community. The narrative was analysed by thematic analysis deductively to elucidate their views on importance of Oroo’ secret sign language in the community today. It was found that most young generation did not understand the language due to some factors. They perceived that Oroo’ has no significant to their life because words are main medium of communication nowadays. While middle-aged community has at least basic knowledge of Oroo’ from their self-experience with old-aged generation in the forest. The language is threatened with extinction due to its significant declining users. There is a need for relevant stakeholders to take actions towards preserving this intangible and unique cultural heritage.

Anahtar Kelimeler:

Oroo’, Orang Ulu, Borneo, East Malaysia, endangered language

PERCEPTION ON PENAN'S OROO’ LANGUAGE AMONG LOCAL COMMUNITY AT BATU BUNGAN, MULU, SARAWAK, MALAYSIA

Keywords:

Oroo’, Orang Ulu, Borneo, East Malaysia, endangered language,

PDF

___

1. Arpentieva M.R..; Retnawati H.; Akhmetova T.A.; Azman M.N.A.; Kassymova G.K. (2021). Constructivist approach in pedagogical science. Challenges of Science. Issue IV, 2021, pp. 12-17. https://doi.org/10.31643/2021.02
2. Averweg, U.R., & Greyling, E. H. (2010). Some challenges for Information and Communication Technologies in Indigenous Knowledge preservation. Journal of the Southern Africa Institute of Management Services (SAIMAS), 19(1), 15–17. http://www.ulwazi.org/docs/Averweg and Greyling 10th June 2010.pdf
3. Frappaolo, C. (2008). Implicit knowledge. Knowledge Management Research & Practice, 6(1), 23–25. https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.kmrp.8500168
4. Hammarberg, K., Kirkman, M., & Lacey, S. De. (2016). Qualitative research methods : when to use them and how to judge them. 31(3), 498–501. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dev334
5. Jain, P., & Jibril, L. (2016). Expanding Library Services for Indigenous Community Posteriy: A Case of Selected Public Libraries in Botswana. The IFLA World Library and Information Congress, 1–19.
6. Jensen, H. (1970). Sign, symbol and script: An account of man’sefforts to write. Allen & Unwin.
7. Koizumi, M., & Momose, K. (2007). Penan Benalui wild-plant use, classification, and nomenclature. Current Anthropology, 48(3), 454–459. https://doi.org/10.1086/517593
8. Nais, N. (2021, July 2). Penan villagers went into hiding, fled homes to avoid Covid-19 swab tests in Long Iman. Dayak Daily. https://dayakdaily.com/penan-villagers-went-into-hiding-fled-homes-to-avoid-covid-19-swab-tests-in-long-iman/
9. Nyota, S., & Mapara, J. (2008). Shona Traditional Children’s Games and Play : Songs as Indigenous Ways of Knowing. The Journal of Pan African Studies, 2(4), 189–203.
10. Onwuegbuzie, A.J., & Leech, N.L. (2007). Sampling designs in qualitative research: making the sampling process more public. The Qualitative Report, 12(2), 19–20.
11. Pettersen, B. (2011). Mind the digital gap: Questions and possible solutions for design of databases and information systems for Sami traditional knowledge. In Working with Traditional Knowledge: Communities, Institutions, Information Systems, Law and Ethics (Issue 1, pp. 163–192). Sámi University College.
12. Plimmer, B., He, L., Zaman, T., Karunanayaka, K., Yeo, A.W., Jengan, G., Blagojevic, R., & Do, E. Y. (2015). New Interaction Tools for Preserving an Old Language. The 33rd Annual ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, 3493–3502.
13. Rothstein, M. (2020). Being lost Landscape, troubling spirits and ritual strategies among the Eastern Penan. Hunter Gatherer Research, 4(3), 355–368. https://doi.org/10.3828/hgr.2018.22
14. Subramaniam, T., Samdin, Z., Ramachandran, S., & Kunasekaran, P. (2019). Memorable Ecotourism Experiences in Taman. International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering (IJRTE), 7(5S), 25–33.
15. Talib, O. (2019). Analisis data kualitatif dengan Atlas.ti (1st ed.). Penerbit Universiti Putra Malaysia.
16. Tashakkori, A., Johnson, R. B., & Teddlie, C. (2020). Foundations of Mixed Methods Research: Integrating Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches in the Social and Behavioral Sciences (2nd ed.). SAGE Publications, Inc.
17. UNESCO. (2011). Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger (C. Moseley (ed.); 3rd ed.). UNESCO.
18. Von Lewinski. (2008). Indigenous heritage and intellectual property: genetic resources,traditional knowledge and folklore (2nd ed.). Kluwer Law International.
19. Zaman, T., & Falak, H. (2018). Insights and Challenges in Digitalization of a Secret Sign Language of the Penan on Borneo Island. Springer Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-7697-8
20. Zaman, T., Kulathuramaiyer, N., Yeo, A. W., & Falak, H. (2015). Modelling indigenous knowledge creation as a living system. 6(2), 136–150.
21. Zaman, T., & Winschiers-theophilus, H. (2017). Penan’s Oroo’ Short Message Signs (PO-SMS ): Co-design of a Digital Jungle Sign Language Application. 15th Human-Computer Interaction (INTERACT), 489–504.
22. Zaman, T., Winschiers-theophilus, H., & Yeo, A. W. (2015). Reviving an Indigenous Rainforest Sign Language : Digital Oroo ’ Adventure Game. 15–18.
23. Zaman, T., Yeo, A. W., & Jengan, G. (2016). Designing digital solutions for preserving penan sign language: A reflective study. Advances in Human-Computer Interaction, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/4174795
24. Zaman, T., Yeo, A.W., & Kulathuramaiyer, N. (2014). Knowledge Management in Nonprofit Settings: A Case Study of Indigenous Knowledge Management. International Journal of Public Administration in the Digital Age (IJPADA), 1(4), 8.