The Bintulu Dialect - An Introduction.
|
THE SARAWAK MUSEUM JOURNAL |
|
Title :
The Bintulu Dialect - An Introduction. |
|
Author :
Bibi Aminah Abdul Ghani |
|
Abstract:
This paper attempts to introduce the sound system of the Bintulu speech or dialect- a dialect which is spoken by the people of Bintulu. The Bintulu speechor ’qaop ba?i' Is spoken in the surrounding areas of Bintulu such as in Kampung Masjid, Kampung SInong, Kampung Sibiew, Kampung Jepak, Kampung Batu 10 and further upstream along Began, Silas, Sepadok, Pendan, Labang and Tubau. Other places where this speech system is spoken or used are Tatau, Sual, Sebauh and as far as Niah, Bekenu and Subis. The term ’ba?r or 'baqi' "besides bearing the meaning of 'person' is also a term referring to the town of Bintulu" (Asmah, 1983). Thus, 'qaop ba?i' means Bintulu speechor Bintulu dialect. Asmah (1983) in her discussion on the Melanau called this speech community as the "Melanau of Bintulu"; however, Blust (1988) In his most recent work on Mukah Melanau claimed that the term "Melanau" does not include Bintulu speakers. Blust defined the linguistic referent of the term 'Melanau' as referring to "a dialect chain which extends along the coast of Sarawak from Balinglan in the north to the region of Rejang, Jerijeh and Sarikei villages In the south, and up the Rejang River as far as Kanowit. Contrary to an often-repeated statement, it does not Include Bintulu." In his dissertation (Blust, 1974), he termed this linguistic group as a "North Sarawak Isolate". In this paper I will use the term 'Bintulu dialect' to refer to this particular language group.
|
| DOI: XXXX |
|
How to cite:
Bibi Aminah Abdul Ghani. (1992). The Bintulu Dialect - An Introduction. The Sarawak Museum Journal, XLIII (64): 321-342 |
|
References
|
