Languages of Brunei
There are a multitude of languages spoken in Brunei[1]. The official language of the state of Brunei is standard Malay, the same Riau dialect that is the basis for the standards in Malaysia and Indonesia.[2] This came into force on 29 September 1959, with the signing of Brunei 1959 Constitution[3].
English is also widely used as a business and working language. It is also the language of instruction in secondary and tertiary education. Other languages spoken in Brunei include the Chinese, Indian and Native languages spoken by the minority ethnic groups.
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[edit] Brunei Malay
The local dialect, Melayu Brunei (Brunei Malay), also known as Kedayan, is the national language.[4] It is spoken by about 266,000 people.[5] It is also spoken as lingua franca in some parts of East Malaysia such as Federal Territory of Labuan, District of Limbang and Lawas (Sarawak) and District of Sipitang, Beaufort, Kuala Penyu and Papar (Sabah). It is expanding at the expense of the indigenous minority languages. Brunei Malay is quite divergent from standard Malay and the rest of the Malay dialects and is mostly mutually unintelligible with them.
[edit] Minority languages
There are five minority peoples native to Brunei, each with their own language: Tutong, Belait, Dusun, Bisaya, and Lun Bawang ('Murut'). They are less than 40% cognate with Brunei Malay, and are being replaced with it through intermarriage and conversion to Islam.
Iban, Penan, and Mukah are spoken by immigrants from Sarawak.
[edit] Standard Malay
The Malay language, also known locally as Bahasa Melayu, is the standard language for the peoples of the Malay Archipelago and is spoken as a lingua franca in Brunei. The official standard for the language, has been defined and agreed upon by the Language and Literature Bureaus of Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. Standard Malay ia also accepted in the printed form and is used in all official Brunei government media as well.
[edit] Arabic
Arabic is the language of the Quran and is used by Islamic scholars in Brunei. The official religion of Brunei is Islam[6] and as such, all adherents of the faith possess some proficiency in reading and speaking Arabic.
Arabic is also taught in schools, particularly religious schools, and also in institutes of higher learning[7]. As of 2004, there are six Arabic schools and one religious teachers' college in Brunei[8].
[edit] Chinese Languages
The Chinese minority in Brunei speak a large number of the various Chinese languages and dialects[9]. The Hokkien (Min Nan) tongue predominates in the Brunei-Muara and Temburong districts, while Cantonese and Hakka speakers are mostly concentrated in the Seria and Kuala Belait areas of the Belait district. Other versions of Chinese spoken in Brunei include Hoisan, Fuchow and Hainanese.
Mandarin is the language of instruction at the primary level in the private Chinese schools, and is taught as a subject at the secondary level. Mandarin is also used as the lingua franca among the Chinese community.
[edit] Indian Languages
The Indian minority in Brunei originates mostly from southern India. They are joined by a relatively large expatriate community, estimated at about 7500, from India[10]. Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and Hindi are some of the Indian languages spoken in Brunei.
[edit] Nepali Languages
There is also a large contingent of Nepali soldiers of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Gurkha Rifles stationed in Brunei. The language spoken by most of these soldiers is Gurkhali. There are Gurkhali languages services provided by Radio Television Brunei[11] and the British Forces Broadcasting Service[12].
[edit] Expatriate Languages
Besides the expatriate Indians, Brunei also has a large expatriate community of Filipino[13], Indonesian and English-speaking[14] origins.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Martin, P. W., & Poedjosoedarmo, G. (1996). An overview of the language situation in Brunei Darussalam. In P. W. Martin, C. Ozog & G. Poedjosoedarmo (Eds.), Language use & language change in Brunei Darussalam (pp. 1-23). Athens, Ohio: Ohio University Center for International Studies.
- ^ Gallop, 2006. "Brunei Darussalam: Language Situation". In Keith Brown, ed. (2005). Encyclopedia of Language and Linguistics (2 ed.). Elsevier. ISBN 0-08-044299-4.
- ^ Language and Literature Bureau Brief History - retrieved 20-04-2007
- ^ Gallop, 2006. "Brunei Darussalam: Language Situation". In Keith Brown, ed. (2005). Encyclopedia of Language and Linguistics (2 ed.). Elsevier. ISBN 0-08-044299-4.
- ^ Ethnologue report for language code: kxd
- ^ Encyclopaedia Britannica - retrieved 22-04-2007
- ^ Brunei Economic Development Board - retrieved 22-04-2007
- ^ Ministry of Education Statistics 2004 - retrieved 22-04-2007
- ^ Brunei at a Glance BruDirect - retrieved 20-04-2007
- ^ Indian Community in Brunei - High Commission of India to Brunei - retrieved 20-04-2007
- ^ Pilihan Radio, Radio Television Brunei - retrieved 20-04-2007
- ^ BFBS Global Locations - retrieved 20-04-2007
- ^ Filipino Organisations in Brunei, Philippines Embassy - retrieved 20-04-2007
- ^ Centre for British Teachers in Brunei - retrieved 20-04-2007
