The power of language in building harmonious society

This year’s International Literacy Day champions multilingual education for understanding and peace. True to its core, multilingualism is especially crucial in a multicultural country.

Celebrating Multilingualism

Being literate is a fundamental human right and an important aspect of personal development. The ability to understand and engage in conversation opens doors to many opportunities and fosters a critical mindset essential for societal improvement. Literacy enables individuals to enjoy other human rights, greater freedoms, and acquire broader knowledge and skills.

However, a UNESCO report reveals that at least one in seven adults aged 15 and above (765 million) lacks basic literacy skills. Additionally, millions of children struggle to achieve minimum proficiency in reading, writing, and numeracy, and approximately 250 million children aged 6 to 18 are out of school.

Each year, UNESCO celebrates International Literacy Day on September 8. This year, the organisation champions the theme “Promoting Multilingual Education: Literacy for Mutual Understanding and Peace”. According to a statement, the theme highlights the need to leverage the transformative potential of literacy to foster mutual understanding, social cohesion, and peace.

“In today’s world, in which multilingualism is a common practice for many, empowering people by adopting a first language-based, multilingual approach to literacy development and education is particularly effective for its cognitive, pedagogical, and socio-economic benefits. Such an approach can help promote mutual understanding and respect, while solidifying communal identities and collective histories.”

A multilingual Malaysia

Being multilingual is vital, especially in a diverse country like Malaysia and its even more diverse region of Sarawak. Understanding the common languages of the region is essential for fostering a harmonious and cohesive community.

According to a 2019 analysis by a collaborative team from Hong Kong University (HKU) and the University of Malaya (UM), Malaysia’s linguistic landscape includes Bahasa Melayu, English, Mandarin Chinese, and Tamil, along with over 130 other languages.

Sarawak, with a population of over 2.9 million (as of 2020), is home to more than 26 ethnic communities. The Dayaks constitute 40 per cent of Sarawak’s population, with 30 per cent being Iban. Thus, Iban and Bidayuh are widely spoken.

Meanwhile, the remaining population speaks Malay, Chinese dialects such as Hokkien, Hakka, and Cantonese, as well as other minority ethnic languages.

The analysis further indicates that, as one of the largest minority groups in Malaysia, the Chinese-speaking population is also significantly large.

“There are nearly 2 million Hokkien speakers in Malaysia, followed by Hakka and Cantonese, with 1.8 million and 1.4 million speakers, respectively.

“Hokkien is predominantly spoken in Sarawak, Penang, north Perak, and Kedah, while Cantonese is mostly spoken in Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur (MM2H, 2020).”

With the government’s emphasis on unity and the celebration of diversity in Sarawak’s multicultural community, being multilingual is relatively common. Growing up in the melting pot of Sarawak makes it easier for individuals to learn and understand multiple languages.

Important to learn and speak

Growing up in Sarawak, we are exposed to the region’s rich multiculturalism and multilingualism. To share their experiences with being multilingual and how it has impacted them, Sarawak Tribune spoke to three Sarawakians about their ability to speak different languages and how it has, if not united them, contributed to the betterment of society.

Au Kah Kee, a mother of two, expressed her gratitude for being multilingual, noting how it benefited her during her university days abroad.

“I was able to make friends and connect with people from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Vietnam,” said the 34-year-old.

She also mentioned that her multilingualism helped her stand out in job interviews in Australia.

Thankful for Malaysia’s multiculturalism, which encourages multilingualism, Au learned Bahasa Melayu, Chinese, and English during her primary and secondary school education. She also picked up the Hakka dialect from her family and Cantonese from watching television dramas.

Similarly, emcee and Yoyo performer Ryan Han shared a comparable experience. Growing up, he was initially comfortable only speaking English. However, as he transitioned into his role as an emcee, he realised the importance of being multilingual in Sarawak.

“In our local community, there are many people with varying levels of language fluency. Being multilingual opens more doors and allows me to work on a wider range of events. I am thankful for my ability to communicate in different languages, as it helps me connect more closely with the crowd.”

Han further revealed that his wife’s encouragement was a key factor in his decision to expand his communication skills. He learned from his “sifu” and friends at events.

“Sometimes, I watch YouTube to learn more.”

As an emcee, the 36-year-old is fluent in Bahasa Melayu, Chinese, and English.

Meanwhile, 30-year-old Nur Asyiqin Mohammad Hisyam, who was born into a family of mixed parentage — Iban, Malay, and Chinese — has always appreciated her unique background and her ability to adapt to different environments.

Currently working in Kapit, where the majority of residents are Iban and speak the language, she values the multilingual upbringing her Iban father and Malay-Chinese mother provided, ensuring that she and her siblings grew up with a strong connection to their root languages.

“My father has high expectations for his children to be well-versed in Iban. I believe it all starts at home. If my father hadn’t taught us his language, we would not know about it, let alone understand the language itself. It makes our communication easier, especially when speaking to elders who aren’t fluent in English or Bahasa Melayu.”

She also believes that by being multilingual, it helps the continuity of a culture to expose the next generation to the beauty of Sarawak’s native languages, despite English being a prevalent language these days.

All in all, the power to communicate and be literate plays a crucial role in fostering social cohesion, mutual understanding, and cultural preservation. As we celebrate International Literacy Day, let us recognise the value of promoting literacy in all forms — whether it is through formal education or cultural transmission at home. By embracing multilingualism, we can help build a more inclusive, peaceful, and harmonious society where every voice is heard, and every story is shared.