Language Shift Towards Bahasa

LANGUAGE SHIFT TOWARDS BAHASA MALAYSIA AND ENGLISH AMONG THE MALAYSIAN BANJARESE: A CASE STUDYBY NADHRATUNNAIM BINTI ABAS INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA MARCH 2005 LANGUAGE SHIFT TOWARDS BAHASA MALAYSIA AND ENGLISH AMONG THE MALAYSIAN BANJARESE: A CASE STUDY BY NADHRATUNNAIM BINTI ABAS A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF HUMAN SCIENCES IN ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE KULLIYYAH OF ISLAMIC REVEALED KNOWLEDGE AND HUMAN SCIENCES INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA MARCH 2005 The first and second phases of data collection involved a set of questionnaire and interviews with ninety Banjarese research participants in four states in the Peninsular Malaysia. Perak and Selangor. Bahasa Malaysia. interview and observation). Language shift most commonly involves the change in the habitual language use of the ethnic minority such as the more frequent use of the dominant languages than the minority language. Bahasa Malaysia and English as the product of the ethnic and linguistic assimilation introduced by the Malaysian government.ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS The present case study hypothesized that there existed language shift from Banjari towards the first and second socially and economically most important languages in Malaysia. namely the socio-demographic and sociolinguistic factors which have influenced the shift. To ensure that the national unity was achieved. The third phase of this study . all Malaysian-born ethnic minorities of Indonesian-origin (Banjarese being one of them) were assimilated into one major ethnic group. and sharing one language. the present study examines some factors. Through three phases of data collection using three major research instruments (questionnaire. Johor. Pahang. namely the Malays. It is influenced by the socio-demographic factors of the participants (age and generation. language choice. level of profession. gender. language proficiency. code-switching and language attitudes). housing area and housing type) and their interrelation with the sociolinguistic factors of the participants (knowledge of language/s.involved a series of non-participant observation involving four households in both urban and rural areas of Pahang and Perak. . language difficulties. The findings have indicated that language shift from Banjari is taking place in the Malaysian Banjarese community. language use. ‬‬ ‫ﻭﺠﻠﺴﺎﺕ ﻤﻘﺎﺒﻠﺔ ﻤﻊ ﺘﺴﻌﻴﻥ ﻤﻥ ﻨﺎﻁﻘﻲ ﺍﻟﺒﻨﺠﺎﺭﻴﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺃﺭﺒﻊ ﻤﻥ ﻭﻻﻴﺎﺕ ﺸﺒﻪ ﺠﺯﻴﺭﺓ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻤﻼﻴﻭ ﻭﻫﻲ ﺠﻭﻫﻭﺭ ﻭﺒﻬﺎﻨﺞ ﻭﻓﻴﺭﺍﻕ ﻭﺴﻼﻨﺠﻭﺭ‪ .‫ﻤﻠﺨﺹ ﺍﻟﺒﺤﺙ‬ ‫ﻻ ﻤﻥ ﺍﻟﻠﻐﺔ ﺍﻟﺒﻨﺠﺎﺭﻴﺔ ﺇﻟﻰ ﺃﻭل ﻭﺜﺎﻨﻲ ﺃﻫﻡ ﺍﻟﻠﻐﺎﺕ‬ ‫ﺘﻔﺘﺭﺽ ﻫﺫﻩ ﺍﻟﺩﺭﺍﺴﺔ ﺃﻥ ﻫﻨﺎﻙ ﺘﺤﻭ ﹰ‬ ‫ﺍﺨﺘﻴﺎﺭﻫﻤﺎ ﻤﻥ ﻗﺒل ﺍﻟﺤﻜﻭﻤﺔ ﻜﻌﺎﻤل ﻤﻥ ﻋﻭﺍﻤل ﺘﺤﻘﻴﻕ ﺍﻟﺘﻭﺤﺩ ﺍﻟﻌﺭﻗﻲ ﻭﺍﻟﻠﻐﻭﻱ‪.‬ﺃﻤﺎ ﺍﻟﻤﺭﺤﻠﺔ ﺍﻟﺜﺎﻟﺜﺔ ﻓﻘﺩ ﺍﺸﺘﻤﻠﺕ‬ .‬‬ ‫ﻤﺎﻟﻴﺯﻴﺎ‪ ،‬ﺒﻤﺎ ﻓﻴﻬﺎ ﺍﻷﻗﻠﻴﺔ ﺍﻹﻨﺩﻭﻨﻴﺴﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺒﻨﺠﺎﺭﻴﺔ‪ ،‬ﺘﻡ ﺍﺴﺘﻴﻌﺎﺒﻬﺎ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﺠﻤﻭﻋﺔ ﺍﻟﻌﺭﻗﻴﺔ‬ ‫ﻴﻌﻜﺱ ﺍﻟﺘﺤﻭل ﺍﻟﻠﻐﻭﻱ ﻋﻤﻭﻤﺎ ﺍﻟﺘﻐﻴﺭ ﻓﻲ ﻋﺎﺩﺍﺕ ﺍﺴﺘﺨﺩﺍﻡ ﺍﻟﻠﻐﺔ ﻋﻨﺩ ﺍﻷﻗﻠﻴﺔ‬ ‫ﺎ ﻓﻲ ﻤﺎﻟﻴﺯﻴﺎ‪ ،‬ﻭﻫﻤﺎ ﺍﻟﻠﻐﺘﺎﻥ ﺍﻟﻤﻼﻴﻭﻴﺔ ﻭﺍﻹﻨﺠﻠﻴﺯﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﻠﺘﺎﻥ ﺘﻡ‬ ‫ﺎ ﻭﺍﻗﺘﺼﺎﺩﻴﹰ‬ ‫ﺍﺠﺘﻤﺎﻋﻴﹰ‬ ‫ﻭﻟﺘﺤﻘﻴﻕ ﺍﻟﻭﺤﺩﺓ ﺍﻟﻭﻁﻨﻴﺔ ﻋﻥ ﻁﺭﻴﻕ ﺍﻟﺘﻭﺤﺩ ﺍﻟﻠﻐﻭﻱ ﻓﺈﻥ ﻜﺎﻓﺔ ﺍﻷﻗﻠﻴﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻤﻭﻟﻭﺩﺓ ﻓﻲ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻤﻼﻴﻭﻴﺔ ﻭﺘﺘﺤﺩﺙ ﻟﻐﺔ ﻤﺸﺘﺭﻜﺔ ﻭﺍﺤﺩﺓ ﻫﻲ ﺍﻟﻠﻐﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﻼﻴﻭﻴﺔ‪.‬ﻭﻗﺩ ﺘﻡ ﺍﺴﺘﺨﺩﺍﻡ ﺜﻼﺜﺔ ﻤﻥ ﺃﺩﻭﺍﺕ ﺠﻤﻊ ﺍﻟﺒﻴﺎﻨﺎﺕ ﻓﻲ ﻫﺫﻩ ﺍﻟﺩﺭﺍﺴﺔ‪ ،‬ﻭﻫﻲ‬ ‫ﺍﻷﺜﺭ ﺍﻷﻜﺒﺭ ﻓﻲ ﺤﺩﻭﺙ ﺍﻟﺘﺤﻭل ﺍﻟﻠﻐﻭﻱ‪ .‬ﻭﺍﻟﻌﻭﺍﻤل ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﺘﻡ ﺍﺨﺘﺒﺎﺭﻫﺎ ﺒﺎﻟﺘﺤﺩﻴﺩ ﻫﻲ‬ ‫ﻭﻗﺩ ﺍﺸﺘﻤﻠﺕ ﺍﻟﻤﺭﺤﻠﺘﺎﻥ ﺍﻷﻭﻟﻰ ﻭﺍﻟﺜﺎﻨﻴﺔ ﻤﻥ ﺠﻤﻊ ﺍﻟﺒﻴﺎﻨﺎﺕ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﺴﺘﺒﻴﺎﻥ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺘﻭﺯﻴﻊ ﺍﻻﺠﺘﻤﺎﻋﻲ ﻟﻠﺴﻜﺎﻥ ﻭﻋﻭﺍﻤل ﺍﻟﻠﻐﺔ ﺍﻻﺠﺘﻤﺎﻋﻴﺔ‪.‬‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻌﺭﻗﻴﺔ ﻭﺫﻟﻙ ﺒﺎﺍﻟﺘﺤﻭل ﻨﺤﻭ ﺍﺴﺘﺨﺩﺍﻡ ﺍﻟﻠﻐﺔ ﺍﻟﺴﺎﺌﺩﺓ ﺃﻜﺜﺭ ﻤﻥ ﺍﺴﺘﻌﻤﺎل ﻟﻐﺔ ﺘﻠﻙ ﺍﻷﻗﻠﻴﺔ‬ ‫ﺍﻻﺴﺘﺒﻴﺎﻥ ﻭﺍﻟﻤﻘﺎﺒﻠﺔ ﻭ ﺍﻟﻤﻼﺤﻅﺔ‪ ،‬ﻋﻠﻰ ﺜﻼﺜﺔ ﻤﺭﺍﺤل‪ ،‬ﻭﺫﻟﻙ ﻻﺨﺘﺒﺎﺭ ﺍﻟﻌﻭﺍﻤل ﺫﺍﺕ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻌﺭﻗﻴﺔ‪ . ‬‬ ‫ﺍ ﺒﻌﻨﺎﺼﺭ ﺍﻟﺘﻭﺯﻴﻊ ﺍﻻﺠﺘﻤﺎﻋﻰ ﻟﻠﺴﻜﺎﻥ )ﻤﻥ ﻋﻤﺭ ﻭﺠﻴل‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺒﻨﺠﺎﺭﻱ ﺍﻟﻤﺎﻟﻴﺯﻱ ﻤﺘﺄﺜﺭﹰ‬ ‫ﺍﻻﺠﺘﻤﺎﻋﻴﺔ )ﻤﻥ ﻤﻌﺭﻓﺔ ﺍﻟﻠﻐﺎﺕ‪ ،‬ﺍﻟﻔﺼﺎﺤﺔ‪ ،‬ﺍﺴﺘﺨﺩﺍﻡ ﺍﻟﻠﻐﺔ ﻭﺍﺨﺘﻴﺎﺭﻫﺎ ﻭﺍﻟﺼﻌﻭﺒﺎﺕ‬ ‫ﻭﺠﻨﺱ ﻭﻤﻬﻨﺔ ﻭﻤﻜﺎﻥ ﻭﻨﻭﻉ ﺍﻟﺴﻜﻥ( ﺇﻟﻰ ﺠﺎﻨﺏ ﺘﺩﺍﺨل ﻫﺫﻩ ﺍﻟﻌﻭﺍﻤل ﺒﻌﻭﺍﻤل ﺍﻟﻠﻐﺔ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﻠﻐﻭﻴﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﺘﺤﻭل ﺍﻟﻠﻐﻭﻯ ﻭﺍﻻﺘﺠﺎﻫﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻠﻐﻭﻴﻪ(‪.‬‬ .‫ﻋﻠﻰ ﺴﻠﺴﻠﺔ ﻤﻥ ﺍﻟﻤﻼﺤﻅﺎﺕ ﻷﺭﺒﻊ ﻤﻥ ﺭﺒﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺒﻴﻭﺕ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﺭﻴﻑ ﻭﺍﻟﺤﻀﺭ ﻤﻥ ﺍﻟﻠﺫﻴﻥ‬ ‫ﺎ ﻴﺠﺭﻯ ﻓﻲ ﺃﻭﺴﺎﻁ ﺍﻟﻤﺠﺘﻤﻊ‬ ‫ﻻ ﻟﻐﻭﻴ ﹰ‬ ‫ﺃﺸﺎﺭﺕ ﺍﻟﻨﺘﺎﺌﺞ ﺇﻟﻰ ﺃﻥ ﻫﻨﺎﻙ ﺘﺤﻭ ﹰ‬ ‫ﻟﻡ ﻴﺸﺘﺭﻜﻭﺍ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻻﺴﺘﺒﻴﺎﻥ ﺃﻭ ﺍﻟﻤﻘﺎﺒﻠﺔ ﻤﻥ ﻭﻻﻴﺘﻲ ﺒﻬﺎﻨﺞ ﻭﻓﻴﺭﺍﻕ‪. ___________________________ Nora bt. Department of English Language and Literature The thesis was submitted to the Department of English Language and Literature and is accepted as a partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Human Sciences in English as a Second Language. in scope and quality. Mohd Nasir Examiner I certify that I have supervised and read this study and that in my opinion it conforms to acceptable standards of scholarly presentation and is fully adequate.APPROVAL PAGE I certify that I have supervised and read this study and that in my opinion it conforms to acceptable standards of scholarly presentation and is fully adequate. _____________________________ Umar Abdurrahman Head. as a thesis for the degree of Master of Human Sciences in English as a Second Language. in scope and quality. Mohd Ali Supervisor The thesis was submitted to the Department of English Language and Literature and is accepted as a partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Human Sciences in English as a Second Language. ____________________________ Haja Mohideen b. ______________________________ . as a thesis for the degree of Master of Human Sciences in English as a Second Language. Mohamad@Md. Som Sujimon Dean. Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences . photocopying. 1. stored in a retrieval system. or transmitted. store in a retrieval system and supply copies of this unpublished research if requested by other universities and research libraries. mechanical. Any material contained in or derived from this unpublished research may only be used by others in their writing with due acknowledgement 2. IIUM or its library will have the right to make and transmit copies (print or electronic) for institutional and academic purposes 3. in any form or by any means.INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA DECLARATION OF COPYRIGHT AND AFFIRMATION OF FAIR USE OF UNPUBLISHED RESEARCH Copyright © 2005 by Nadhratunnaim binti Abas. Language Shift Towards Bahasa Malaysia and English Among the Malaysian Banjarese: A Case Study. All rights reserved. electronic. . No part of this unpublished research may be reproduced. The IIUM library will have the right to make. recording or otherwise without the prior written transmission of the copyright holder except as provided below. Affirmed by Nadhratunnaim binti Abas Signature March 2005 Date . Name Nadhratunnaim binti Abas Signature Date: March 2005 . except where otherwise stated. Other sources are acknowledged by footnotes giving explicit references and a bibliography is appended.DECLARATION I hereby declare that this thesis is the result of my own investigations. Latifah. the last generation Banjarese in my family who continue to use Banjari as their first language . Abas and Hjh. Hj.To my parents. I am also grateful to all the Banjarese representatives who have offered generous assistance to me while conducting this research in their places. Redzuan (Kluang). Assoc. thank you for supporting me in pursuing this area as my research topic. Prof. Dr. Initially. Tn. Haja Mohideen. Najib (Shah Alam). En. Hj. Hj. Jamaluddin (Bagan Serai). Hj. Prof.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to express my deep sense of gratitude to my supervisor. Zulkefli (Kuantan). Hj. whose inspiration and insights on the scope of this research had made me pursue this topic of research. I would like to thank Assoc. Jalil (Sg. Hj. Fatonah (Batu Pahat). Prof. Hj. Normala. Subramaniam Govindasamy. Dr. Hj. To Assist. Hare and Assoc. Words cannot adequately express my gratitude to those who have been helping me throughout the completion of this thesis. Adrian E. to whom I owe an immeasurable debt. Tn. I am indebted to both of my . Abd. Dr. Tn. Besar) and Tn. Dr. Prof. Said and Puan Hjh. He has been offering innumerable assistance and constructive criticism which help made the writing of this thesis better and more presentable. Johari and Tn. This is especially to Tn. Hamidin (Keratong). Tn. especially to my mother who had accompanied me in each stage of this research. to all the research participants. Finally. . Without them.parents. I am grateful for their kindness and cooperation while involving in this research. this research would never have been successful. 2 Theories and Perspectives on Language Shift… in Relation to the Present Study 1. 1..1 Background to Study 1..1.2.………………………………………………………………… Approval page ………………………………………………………….7 Significance of the Research……………………….2..2. 1.2 Sample……………………………………………….4 Objectives of the Research…………………………. 1.. 3..1. CHAPTER 3 : METHODOLOGY OF RESEARCH …………………… 3.3 Sampling Procedure…………………………………...5 Research Questions………………………………….. 1. and English in Malaysia 1.2.TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract .2.3 Purpose of the Study.3 Socio-demographic and Sociolinguistic Factors.1 The Migration of Banjarese to Peninsular…… Malaysia 1. 1. ii iii iv vii viii 1 1 1 3 3 4 7 7 8 8 9 13 18 24 29 31 31 32 35 . and Language Shift 1.. CHAPTER 2 : LITERATURE REVIEW……………………………….2.2 The Status and Role of Bahasa Malaysia.6 Research Hypotheses……………………………….4 Theoretical Framework for Language Shift…….1 Introduction 1.2 Statement of the Problem 1. 3.1 Ethnic and Linguistic Assimilation…… 1. 1. Acknowledgements …………………………………………………… List of Tables and Figures ……………………………………………… CHAPTER 1 : INTRODUCTION …………………………………….………………………………. Declaration …………………………………………………………….1 Population……………………………………………. .1 Age and generation and sociolinguistic factors..1 Language shift as influenced by socio-demographic.3 Level of profession and sociolinguistic factors. sociolinguistic factors CHAPTER 5 : CONCLUSION ……………………………………………..5.. 4. 4. 4. and sociolinguistic Factors 4..3 Contributors to language shift according to generation.5.. 5. 3... Bahasa Malaysia and English 4.1 Summary and conclusion……………………………….6 Data Analysis……………………………………….5 Housing type and sociolinguistic factors…….. 3..3 Observation…………………………………… 3. APPENDIX III …………………………………………………………… 37 40 40 42 43 46 49 49 50 62 71 81 89 91 94 95 100 100 109 112 114 117 120 125 127 .2 Gender and sociolinguistic factors……………. CHAPTER 4 : FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION ……………………….4 Implications of the Present Study……………………… BIBLIOGRAPHY ………………………………………………………… APPENDIX I ……………………………………………………………… APPENDIX II ……………………………………………………………. 4.5 Instrumentation……………………………………… 3. 4.1.2 Interview……………………………………… 3..2 Symptoms of language shift from Banjari towards…….5.1 Questionnaire…………………………………. 4.2 Suggestions for the maintenance of Banjari…………… 5.3...4 Research Design……………………………………. 5.4 Housing area and sociolinguistic factors……… 4.1.4 Interrelation between the socio-demographic and……. Limitations and Areas for Future Research… 5....3 Problems.1..1.1. LIST OF TABLES Table No.5 4.4 4.8 4.1 3.9 4.2 Sample by generation and gender Snowball sampling technique in the first and second stages of research Total number of sample by research settings and gender Research instruments by states First language by generation (f and %) Languages used currently by generation (f and %) Patterns of language use in three levels of interaction by generation (%) Intrafamilial language use across and within generation (f) Intraethnic and interethnic language use by generation (f) Most frequently used languages by generation (f and %) Generalized patterns of language choice with family and non-family members (f) First language by gender (f and %) Languages used currently by gender (f and %) Page 35 37 3.1 4.10 63 64 Patterns of language use in three levels of interaction by gender (%) 65 .4 4.6 4.3 37 47 51-52 53 53 4.3 3.7 54-55 56 57 60 4.2 4. 3. 21 4.12 4.19 4.13 4.20 4.15 4.22 78 82 83 84 87 90 91 91 .16 4.14 Most frequently used languages by gender (f and %) First language by profession (f and %) Languages used currently by profession (f and %) Patterns of language use in three levels of interaction by profession (%) Most frequently used languages by profession (f and %) First language by housing area (f and %) Languages used currently by housing area (f and %) Patterns of language use in three levels of interaction (%) Most frequently used languages by housing area (f and %) Intrafamilial language use by housing type Intraethnic language use in a wooden house (f) Interethnic language use in a semi-detached house (f) 69-70 72 75 76-77 4.11 4.4.17 4.18 4. 1 2. 1.2 2.and micro.1 Design of the study Language shift by function and competence on macro.3 17 21 2.levels Schema representing the formation of attitudes The four types of cognitive orientation theory beliefs (italics) and the eight kinds of beliefs reflecting EV defined in terms of their subjects and objects of reference Theoretical framework for language shift in the post-assimilation period Page 7 16 2.LIST OF FIGURES Figure No.4 30 . In a melting pot culture like Malaysia. both forms of assimilation might have forced the . ethnically known as the Banjarese. Linguistic assimilation. Consequently.1 Introduction The present study examines language shift that has affected the Malaysianborn Banjari-speaking minority. the Malays. Another attempt to achieve unity is through ethnic assimilation where all the Malaysian-born of Indonesian origins are recognized as one major ethnic group namely.Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION 1. linguistic integration and ethnic assimilation of these groups of immigrants is desirable. which involves the promotion of Bahasa Malaysia and English as the first and second languages (L1 and L2) by the government. aims to remove barriers in interracial communication. The shift from Banjari is believed to be heading towards two socially and economically most dominant and influential languages in Malaysia – Bahasa Malaysia and English. aimed at understanding the current state of the use of Banjari in the postassimilation period. Kalimantan. Actively running the trading and seafaring business.1 The Migration of the Banjarese to Peninsular Malaysia Yustan (1990:506-513) has elaborated in detail on the history of the Banjarese. they populated the cities with direct or easy access to the oceans in East Kalimantan as well as in other cities in the Centre of Kalimantan. the Banjarese ethnicity was resulted from the exogamous marriages of the major ethnic groups in Kalimantan. according to him. Banjari was once the socially and economically powerful language when it was used as the . 1. the name ‘Banjarese’ was derived from the name of “Patih Masih” or “Oloh Masih”. Historically speaking. Banjari and replace it with Bahasa Malaysia and/or English.Banjarese to give up their ethnic language. Originated from Banjarmasin. Occupying a wide area of South Kalimantan. the Javanese and the Malays. a Malay officer in the Banjar Kingdom.1. the present study investigates the extent of the language shift from Banjari to Bahasa Malaysia and English as well as the socio-demographic and sociolinguistic factors associated with it. Thus. their earliest settlement was in Semerah. the Dutch colonialism in 1859 brought a major change on the Banjarese. Perak. Eventually. all the Banjarese as well as other ethnic minorities of Indonesian origin were assimilated into one major . the Banjarese population is scattered in some Malaysian states like Selangor. In the past. they migrated to other places including Indragiri and Peninsular Malaya. Nowadays. most commonly paddy field. Banjarmasin. In Malaya (later Malaysia). Also known as the “river culture”. Pulau Pinang and Pahang. the Banjarese nowadays are rapidly moving forward in the country together with their fellow Malaysians. their lives prospered and developed in that area. there was an ethnic distinction between the Malays and the Banjarese in which the ethnicity of the Banjarese was clearly written on the birth certificate.lingua franca of the people. Before the assimilation took place. However. the Banjarese settled in places where there was good irrigation for agricultural purposes. in the post-assimilation period. Unable to endure the pressure from the Dutch colonialists. No longer restricted to the previous rural life. they populated the rural areas. Johor. They were forced to be labourers and slaves in their own land. which was known as the Kingdom of Banjar or currently. most of them were peasants and by involving in agricultural activities. However. This indicates that all ethnic Malays regardless of their place of origin were regarded as a single group: Malay. along with other ethnic Malays.2. the Banjarese. 1. the Malaysian Banjarese in particular.1 Ethnic and Linguistic Assimilation The ethnic assimilation took place when the Malaysian Constitution and population censuses taken after independence. who are now known as the Malays also do assimilate linguistically when they speak the language of the dominant group. What follows next are some issues that have strongly motivated language shift from Banjari. For the sake of racial . maintaining their ethnic language. which is competing for existence with the more powerful languages in the Malaysian society.ethnic group – the Malay which is currently the dominant group in Malaysia. which the present study intends to look into. as bumiputra. Bahasa Malaysia more frequently than Banjari. is. This has greatly influenced language shift among this group of immigrants. 1. Furthermore.2 Statement of the Problem The problem that had long encountered by the descendents of the immigrants of Indonesian origin. considered the Banjarese. proficiency in Bahasa Malaysia is required of every Malaysian citizen and for the children in schools to earn at least a . Although the Constitution did not prevent them from speaking their own language other than for official purposes.unity.2 The Status and Role of Bahasa Malaysia and English in Malaysia The National Language Policy had placed Bahasa Malaysia as the national language and second to it is English. the distinction as to whether a person from Indonesia was Javanese or Banjarese no longer existed. the official language. 1. allocation of their uses in the language planning such as the national language and official language.2. As a result. there was no serious attempt by the government to incorporate these minority languages. Both are what Asmah (1994) called the primary languages. Their influence was defined by the wider geographical distributions and used by the various communities. This had inevitably assimilated the Banjarese into the language of the Malays: Bahasa Malaysia. and their uses in the administration. Being the first most important language. it appears that the Banjarese had to adapt to the environment of the host country in order to achieve social and economic stability by assimilating into the Malay culture and becoming unilingual Malays.