The Formation of Distribution Pattern of Chinese Dialect Groups in Sarawak, East Malaysia

Abstract

Various Chinese dialects are used in the Chinese society in Southeast Asia. The Chinese society consists of people whose dialects differ considerably depending upon their background.Many studies on the Chinese society in Southeast Asia, with emphasis on the difference of dialects, have been conducted in fields such as history, sociology, and economics. However, studies in these fields lack geographical analysis of the dialect groups. Negligible attention has paid to the residential pattern of such dialect groups.In the field of geography, on the other hand, most studies were done on the residential pattern of the Chinese society in Southeast Asia rather than on the Chinese dialect groups. Although there exists a study of Chinese dialect groups by HODDER (1953), this kind of study has been ignored by geographers.This study analyzes a distribution pattern of Chinese dialect groups in Sarawak, East Malaysia, and shows how such a pattern has developed. For this study, the Malaysian population census data of 1970 was utilized. In addition to the census data, materials gathered by the author through interviewing Chinese dialect groups during his field survey done in April, 1979 were used in this study, as well as literatures published by Chinese associations from each dialect groups.There are seven major dialect groups in Sarawak : Hakkas, Foochows, Hokkiens, Cantonese, Teochews, Henghuas, and Hainanese (Tab. 2 and Fig. 4). Location quotients of each district were obtained by the ratio between a paticular dialect group's population and entire Chinese population in Sarawak. Subsequently, a map was drawn for the purpose of reflecting such location quotients (Fig. 6).The most significant characteristics of the distribution pattern of the Chinese dialect groups in Sarawak is that the two major groups, Hakkas and Foochows, showed remarkable contrast in developing such distribution patterns. Hakkas' population concentrates in the part of the First and Second divisions (these administrative divisions are as of 1970) and Miri, but Foochows reside in the Third and Fourth divisions, eastern part of the First and Second divisions. It appears that Hakkas and Foochows segregate themselves. Although Hokkiens, Teochews, and Cantonese are majority groups of Chinese society in Southeast Asia, they form minority groups in Sarawak. Their location qoutients are greater in other districts.In the course of immigration, there have been places where immigrants arrive and disperse. The Chinese dialect groups were distributed from such bases and through river traffic.As for the Hakkas, around the middle of the 19th century, they came from West Borneo, then Dutch territory, to Bau in the First Division and worked in mines. As the mining industries suffered from recession, the Hakkas moved to neighboring town, Kuching, and its suburbs. There the Hakkas engaged in small buisiness and agriculture, especially growing pepper.Foochows' immigration began when WONG Nai Siong led approximately one thousand people from his province of Foochow to Sibu in the Third Division between 1900 and 1902 (Sibu was later called New Foochow). Foochow settlements were developed from Sibu as a base city, along the Rajang River and formed Foochows' distribution pattern today (Fig. 7 and Fig. 8).Both Hokkiens and Teochews came mostly through Singapore and became active in commerce. In the beginning of immigration, Hokkiens extensively traded with aborigines such the Dayaks. They also played an important role in trading with Singapore where Hokkiens were dominant. Teochews opened general merchandise stores in various districts.Many Cantonese engage in commerce. There are also many Cantonese who engage in agriculture in Sarikei and Kanowit, both in the Third Division. This is attributed to the fact that in 1903, like Foochows, approximately two hundred Cantonese farmers immigrated to Sibu. Most Cantonese in Miri now work in oil wells.