Authors : T.S. Tengku Intan Suzila, Teo Kok Seong and M.N. Mohd Yusri
Abstract: Language is the main medium for knowledge transfer either through paternal or maternal linkages. As egalitarians, the Batek learn through both parents by means of experience or imitation. Heritage knowledge is essential yet the Batek Hep’ language is endangered due to contact and economic crunch. As tourist guides to the Malaysian National Park in Pahang, the Batek male youths are code-mixing and switching, with only an average grasp of their native language. The female’s language is fortunately intact as some are merely necessitated to dwell at the show villages. The present research explores six conveniently sampled Batek Hep’ females’ perceptions, ages varying from early twenties to late fifties on their language pride and language learning style. Method adopted are semi-structured interviews, recorded verbal discourses and participant-observation field notes over a span of a few months through several field visits to several Batek Hep’ settlements along the Tembeling River, Pahang. Atlas ti. software assists the triangulated analysis. Findings offer the female Batek’s perceptions and suggest that to the elders are firmly devoted to their traditional culture and lifestyle, thus ensuring great language pride. Yet unfortunately, the young are keen on evolving. The findings significantly suggest that proper language learning approach is vital where contact language could be learned without neglecting the native language.
T.S. Tengku Intan Suzila, Teo Kok Seong and M.N. Mohd Yusri, 2015. Batek Hep’ Language: The Female’s Pride and Learning Exploration. The Social Sciences, 10: 1499-1502.