Argument for a More Sustainable Model of Indigenous Language Revitalization in Sabah, Malaysia

Abstract

In this paper, the authors argue for the urgent need to document the practice of the use of indigenous languages in Sabah amongst the state’s younger generation of indigenous communities and the  need to examine the challenges in continuing that practice and thereafter to propose a solution to these challenges. The authors propose that the documentation and empirical information be used as material for indigenous language champions – including researchers and heritage language teachers - to determine the best strategy moving forward to sustain and promote intergenerational transmission of the language. A mixed-method research methodology involving quantitative and qualitative methods as well as community-based research methods is proposed for the production of a sustainable language revitalization model. The model proposed adopts the procedures outlined by the Sustainable Use Model (SUM) for indigenous language revitalization (Lewis & Simon, 2015).  The authors suggests running this language revitalization process with the Kimaragang language in the north zone of Sabah, Malaysia as a pilot which if successful will be the base of the indigenous language revitalization model that can be adopted by other indigenous language speaker communities.