The Bidayuh Language Yesterday, Today and ... - SIL International

6 Dreams for the future
It is not easy to predict the future of the Bidayuh language. However, whether we like it or not,
globalization is here to stay. In a globalized world, major languages in any country will have tremendous
advantages over minor languages. In Malaysia, Malaysians—including the Bidayuh people—find it very
beneficial to master Bahasa Melayu, English, Mandarin and other major languages in the country because
up-to-date knowledge, including scientific knowledge, will be published in these languages. They will
become the vehicles for successful lifestyles.
A minority language such as the Bidayuh language which has no political and economic clout could
eventually crumble. This is because globalization will continue to permeate aspects of our culture,
including customs and traditions. Those aspects of our culture such as our language, if not developed and
vitalized, will not be able to withstand the challenges forced by the silent tsunamic wave of
globalization.
But, the Bidayuh customs and traditions which we call adat, language, music and dance, art, ritual
festivals and some other cultural items collectively make up the cultural and historical heritage of the
Bidayuh people. This heritage is what makes the various groups Bidayuh and not anything else. It is a
divine gift handed down to our ancestors and they in turn handed it down to us. Thus this heritage
connects the past to the present. It helps us as a basis to shape the future.
So, it is worthwhile to preserve and develop our language. And we believe that the effort will not be
futile. A model for how Bidayuh can coexist with more powerful languages was developed and presented
at the International Conference on Language Development in Minority Language Communities, 6–8
November 2003, in Bangkok (Lingam et al. 2003). This model considers the traditional Bidayuh
longhouse, which is built halfway up a mountain, not on the top of it. Halfway up the mountain turns
out to be the best position for a longhouse, poised between enemies coming from below and inhospitable
terrain on the upper slopes. Similarly, the Bidayuh language can thrive if it is sufficiently developed, but
it does not need to be as fully developed as the powerful national and international languages occupying
the top of the mountain.
Thus, we persevere with language development. Besides the activities we have described in the
previous section, we see some concrete and probably necessary steps that can be taken to strengthen the
Bidayuh language for the future.
6.1 Bidayuh Language Foundation
It is important that a body, either a language council or a language foundation, be established to create
and implement strategic activities to meet both short term and long term goals of the language
development program. It is hoped that the establishment of the foundation will not only secure the well-
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