Izah Azahari
The Language and Literature Bureau (DBP) continued with the online International Malay Language, Literature and Culture Congress Series (KABSBM) yesterday, attended by 161 participants.
The 22nd presentation in the series featured Indonesian speaker Universitas Mataram Linguistic Field Principal Professor Dr Mahsun MS, and was chaired by DBP Acting Director Suip bin Haji Abdul Wahab.
The congress this time explored the aspect of linguistics, in line with the title ‘Worldising the Malay Language: Opportunities and Challenges’.
It was highlighted that the Malay language is one of the many in the Austronesian language group. Additionally, the ecological situation is of importance in defending and developing the Malay language.
The presentation also noted that the Malay language has many variants, with its naming being in accordance to the pluralism of its speakers. Malay language is in fact no less great than its English counterpart. It is used as the national language in Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
By 2015, 174 learning centres were teaching the Malay language with its reach expending to 45 countries.
Acting Deputy Director of DBP Hajah Sariani binti Haji Ishak and stakeholders from the Sultanate and abroad also attended the talk.
The language congress was supported by Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali, Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan, Brunei Youth Council, Asterawani and Putra Seni Group.
