Tahap Penggunaan dan Sikap Terhadap Bahasa Kebangsaan di Bandaraya Kuching, Sarawak (A Study on the Standard of National Language Usage in Kuching City, Sarawak)

Abstract

Bahasa Melayu merupakan bahasa kebangsaan negara yang digunakan dalam pelbagai konteks, sama ada urusan rasmi, mahupun komersil. Penggunaan bahasa yang baik dan betul dipengaruhi oleh pelbagai faktor, termasuk sikap pengguna bahasa. Kajian ini meneliti tahap penggunaan bahasa kebangsaan (BK) di papan-papan tanda premis perniagaan, kain rentang dan gegantung di dua kawasan Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan (PBT), iaitu Dewan Bandaraya Kuching Utara (DBKU) dan Majlis Bandaraya Kuching Selatan (MBKS). Kajian ini juga meninjau sikap orang awam terhadap penggunaan BK di tempat awam sekitar bandaraya Kuching. Kajian lapangan ini memanfaatkan gambar-gambar papan tanda premis perniagaan, kain rentang dan gegantung di sekitar Kuching, manakala soal selidik menggunakan Google Form diedarkan kepada 351 orang responden. Data kajian dianalisis dengan menggunakan pendekatan Zaharani Ahmad et al. (2010) untuk melihat tahap penggunaan BK. Data daripada soal selidik pula memfokus kepada lima dimensi, iaitu (i) penguatkuasaan; (ii) kesetiaan bahasa; (iii) kebanggaan bahasa; (iv) norma bahasa; dan (v) iltizam (hasrat/harapan). Hasil kajian menunjukkan tahap penggunaan BK bagi kedua-dua PBT, iaitu DBKU dan MBKS bagi kategori premis perniagaan, kain rentang dan gegantung adalah sangat rendah dan kurang memuaskan. Dari segi sikap masyarakat terhadap BK, dapatan menunjukkan kebanyakan responden menyokong pemartabatan BK dalam paparan awam menerusi kelima-lima dimensi yang diteliti. Hal ini jelas menunjukkan bahawa responden mempunyai persetujuan yang tinggi terhadap kepentingan memartabatkan BK di Bandaraya Kuching. Implikasinya, usaha lebih gigih daripada pelbagai pihak  terutamanya PBT untuk terus mengukuhkan penggunaan BK di kawasan pentadbirannya menerusi usaha-usaha pemantapan dan penguatkuasaan undang-undang amat perlu digiatkan kerana walaupun responden kajian menunjukkan sikap positif terhadap kepentingan pemartabatan BK di tempat awam, namun realiti dapatan menunjukkan tahap penggunaan BK berada pada tahap lemah.

Kata kunci: Bahasa Kebangsaan; tahap penggunaan bahasa; sikap bahasa; norma bahasa; pemartabatan bahasa

ABSTRACT

The Malay language being the country’s national language is used in multi-context, be it official affairs or commercial use. The appropriate and accurate use of the Malay language is influenced by a multitude of factors including users’ attitude. This study analysed the standard of the National Language (BK) usage on signboards namely business signage, banners, and buntings located in areas under the jurisdictions of Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) and Kuching South City Hall (MBKS). It also reviews the public’s sentiment towards the use of the national language at public spaces throughout Kuching city. The field work approach benefited images of business premises signage, banners and buntings around Kuching and a survey was done using the Google Form distributed to 351 respondents. The research data was analysed using the approach proposed by Zaharani Ahmad et al. (2010) in order to determine the standard of BK used. The data from the survey focused on five dimensions, namely (i) enforcement, (ii)language loyalty, (iii) language pride (iv) language norms, and (v) aspiration. The findings revealed that the standard of BK used under both the DBKU and MBKS jurisdictions, in all three categories of business premises signage, banners and buntings at public spaces, were at a very low and unsatisfactory level. From the perspective of the public’s attitude towards BK, it was found that the respondents support the dignification of BK in public signage through all five dimensions studied. This clearly suggests that the respondents collectively, regardless of race and age group, support the importance of upholding the national language in the city of Kuching. The implication is, an increased effort from various parties, especially the PBT, to enhance and strengthen the use of BK in their jurisdiction should be made accordingly as despite the positive attitude shown by the public towards the importance on the use of BK at public spaces, the findings of this study have shown that the standard of use is very low.

Keyword: National language; standard of national language use; language attitude; language norm; language dignification