Multilingualism among the Penans in Brunei

Abstract

This article considers multilingualism among a group of ex-hunter-gatherers, the Penans in Brunei. Settled permanently since 1962, this small community of 55 people in habit the sparsely populated subdistrict of Sukang in southern Brunei, where they are adjacent to two other ethnolinguistic groups. The Penans constitute the smallest ethnic minority in the country. Since settling, they have undergone a number of changes, themain one being (apart from permanent settlement) their transition to rice farming (the main means of subsistence for all those living in Sukang). They have also adapted to their social environment by acquiring new codes, although they continue to lack proficiency in the national lingua franca, Brunei Malay, and remain disadvantaged economically. This article is primarily descriptive; findings suggest the language situation of the Penans is quite different from both that of their neighbors and other coastal-dwelling Bruneians. The paper, however, also tries to explain some of the reasons underlying Penans' language attitudes, as well as knowledge and patterns of language use among the Penans.

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