Abstract
When a minority group interacts and comes into contact with individuals from the dominant language, they tend to choose a commonly understood language. Language choice is forced to negotiate their own identity and cultural practices with their dominant culture. This can create a conflict, as in the case of the Punjabi community, who try to adopt new cultural norms and maintain their own identity when living in a dominant cultural group. With the growing number of Punjabis in Sabah, specifically in the capital city of Kota Kinabalu, East Malaysia, this situation presents an excellent case for advancing our knowledge about the challenges that the process of assimilation and enculturation may have on the Punjabi community living in a society which predominantly is of a different culture in Sabah. This study thus addresses the impact of social integration among a small population of the Punjabi Sikhs living in Kota Kinabalu. Data is collected using a questionnaire and interviews with several community members. The study draws implications on how a minority group adapts to the dominant culture and provides possible avenues for future research.
Highlights
This paper examines the language choice of the Punjabi Sikh community living in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, a state in the East of Malaysia
This paper examines the challenges that assimilation and enculturation may have on another Punjabi community living in a society predominantly of a different culture in Sabah, a state in the East of Malaysia, like Kuching consists of indigenous ethnic groups
We start the article by first discussing relevant literature about the study, we provide background information on the history of the Punjabi Sikhs to Malaysia, and we discuss the findings of the study
Summary
This paper examines the language choice of the Punjabi Sikh community living in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, a state in the East of Malaysia. Among the Sikh community in Kuching, they have shown a high degree of assimilation with the dominant use of English instead of the mother tongue, Punjabi, the community has appeared to maintain their ethnocultural identity. In several aspects, such as food, entertainment, and marriage, they have displayed a move towards acculturation to the local community. This paper examines the challenges that assimilation and enculturation may have on another Punjabi community living in a society predominantly of a different culture in Sabah, a state in the East of Malaysia, like Kuching consists of indigenous ethnic groups. We start the article by first discussing relevant literature about the study, we provide background information on the history of the Punjabi Sikhs to Malaysia, and we discuss the findings of the study
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