Kadazandusun Research Articles

MAPPING OF ETHNOGRAPHIC PATTERNS OF KADAZAN DUSUN COMMUNITY IN TAMBUNAN, SABAH USING GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS)

In this decade, the preservation of traditional heritage in the Kadazan Dusun community is an important step that must be emphasized in order for future generations to know and practice their ancestral cultures. The reason is that the Kadazan Dusun community has a unique diversity of legacy tradition. Additionally, more and more countries in the world make the legacy a key component of tourism development. Therefore, it would be a loss to the community as well as the country if the tradition's heritage is extinct from practicing. Currently, the Geographic Information System (GIS) has been introduced in preserving the traditional heritage because of its effectiveness in producing ethnographic maps. This study has mapped the ethnographic area of the Kadazan Dusun community and uses the GIS application to identify the ethnographic pattern of the community. Data from research projects in 2011 was used in this study. The result of this study shows the level of density of ethnographic patterns of the Kadazan Dusun community in Tambunan. The findings of this study provide exposure to the community, especially the Kadazan Dusun in respect of areas with high ethnographic density in Tambunan, thus promoting the area as a Cultural and Heritage Tourism site and also developing knowledge in the field of ethnographic mapping.

LEARNING APPROACH OF READING THE KADAZANDUSUN LANGUAGE THROUGH SONGS AND COMPUTER-BASED MUSIC FOR STANDARD ONE STUDENT

The problem of mastering reading lessons among Primary School students is still emerging in our country and abroad. Cognitive theory has shown that students have their own skills during Year One if they are exposed to more effective teaching and learning processes. Based on previous studies, the reading-based learning approach through songs and computer-based music in teaching and learning was found to have a positive impact on students. Hence, researchers want to study the approach in learning Kadazandusun language through song and computer-based music. This study is using qualitative approach to obtain data based on the research objective which has been determined by the researcher. This study found that reading-based learning approaches using computer-based songs and music were able to influence the achievement of reading for year one students.

User Acceptance on Mobile Apps as an Effective Medium to Learn Kadazandusun Language

Abstract The popularity of mobile applications (mobile apps) is undeniable where it allows people to perform several tasks through the use of smartphones, tablets or corresponding devices. Regardless of the great benefits in terms of innovation, the fast and nonstop growth of the mobile market has caused in some division of the platforms that support mobile device as an ideal platform for language learning applications for dominant languages such as English, Spanish and French in a fun and interactive devices. However, studies have yet to be conducted on the use of mobile technology in learning Kadazandusun language. Indeed, no empirical evidence of user acceptance on mobile apps as an effective medium to learn Kadazandusun language and demand a new study on how mobile technology such as mobile apps can help in preserving the language. Therefore, this conceptual paper discusses the user acceptance of the potentiality of mobile apps as an effective medium to learn Kadazandusun language, guided by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). It is proposed that the users’ acceptance of using mobile apps in learning Kadazandusun language is influenced with their perceived usefulness of the mobile apps and their perceived ease of mobile apps use, which in turn influence their attitude towards mobile app usage and behavioral intention to use. Additional variables to the model includes content richness, user satisfaction, and perceived playfulness. Direction for future research is also presented.

EXPLORING L1 INTERFERENCE IN THE WRITINGS OF KADAZANDUSUN ESL STUDENTS

For many ethnic KadazanDusuns from Sabah, North Borneo, English is a third language after their mother tongue and Malay. The burden of having to contend with an additional language frequently leads to errors, particularly those caused by interference from the first language (L1). This study set out to identify the types and frequency of English language errors and their correlations in the writing of KadazanDusun ESL students at Universiti Malaysia Sabah. A further aim of the study was to establish which of these errors could be attributed to L1 interference. A total of 54 students with lower Malaysian University Entrance Test (MUET) band scores were asked to complete a questionnaire and write a short essay on a designated topic. The language errors were categorized and analysed via statistical analysis. Errors considered to be related to L1 interference were then identified after consultation with an experienced KadazanDusun language lecturer. The most common errors were those involving singular /plural nouns and unusual sentence structures. The results show that approximately 25% of the errors were attributable to L1 interference, i.e. mode (normal/involuntary), voice (actor (-ing form) /undergoer (-ed form), overuse of article, linker (when linker is used, no article is needed), auxiliary verb and direct translation. The findings of this study give ESL practitioners a better insight into student errors and should lead to improved writing performance in the classroom.

The Culture of Tolerance in Families of New Muslims Convert

3 Abstract: In this paper, the authors seek to highlight the importance of tolerance in the pluralistic community of Malaysia as being stated in Article 11 of the constitution which stresses religious freedom in developing a harmonious co-existence. To recognize the tolerance practices in Malaysia, this paper focuses on the new converts in Sabah. As this is a qualitative research in nature, it includes in-depth interviews with the new Sabahan Muslim converts comprised of Kadazandusun, Murut, Rungus, Sino and Chinese. The questions that arise basically pertainto their relationship with their family of previous faith after they have converted to Islam. The results confirm that living in a multi-faith surroundingis not a forbidding factor in developing religious and cultural tolerance amongst the family members. The daily communication and accommodation even develop better mutual understanding, respect and tolerance towards the new Muslim that eventually leads to the supportive response from the family of origin in practising the new lifestyle as a Muslim. In sum, the cultural tolerance has superseded the diversity of religions and ethnics in Malaysia through extensive daily communications and encounters amongst the different faith societies.

The Reception of Kadazandusun University Students towards the Kadazandusun Columns in Sabah's Local Newspapers

This paper aims at investigating the motivations that generate the interests of Kadazandusun students to read news from the Kadazandusun column in three local newspapers namely the Daily Express, The New Sabah Times and Borneo Post. This study also examines the newspaper reading habits among university students and explores what elements in the news that is able to gratify their reading needs. There are 140 respondents for this study that consist of students from Universiti Malaysia Sabah. The Uses and Gratifications Theory is used to explain the reading patterns among the respondents. Preliminary outcomes show that Kadazandusun students appear not interested to read the Kadazandusun language news because they are no longer proficient with the language and news that published in the column are available in the English and Malay versions. Respondents only visit the column to look for specific Kadazandusun terms or words. Some recommendations are put forward to improve the column in this study

Paganism, Animism Or Polytheism: An Investigation Into The Labelling And Categorisation Of Traditional Belief System Of The Kadazandusun

The article surveys the difficulties associated with the attempts to describe the Kadazandusun belief system, which includes attempts to label it as pagan, animistorpolytheist. The characteristics of the traditional Kadazan dusun belief system are compared against these three concepts and the authors observe that both animistic and polytheistic elements are present.The authors highlight the fact that the Kadazan dusun once believed in a hierarchy of deities. They show the similarities between Kadazandusun polytheism and the polytheistic forms of belief found in well-known civilisations such as Greece and China. Besides, the authors argue that the Kadazan dusun are not pagan but they did possess their own belief system before the majority of them embraced the Christian and the Muslim faiths.By approaching the subject in this manner,it is hoped that a more accurate understanding of the traditional belief system of the Kadazan dusun people can subsequently be obtained. More importantly, this article establishes beyond doubt that the traditional Kadazandusun do in fact possess a system of belief, one that is a folk religion in its own right.

Young coronary artery disease in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVESUnderstanding the nature and pattern of young coronary artery disease (CAD) is important due to the tremendous impact on these patients’ socio-economic and physical aspect. Data on young CAD in the southeast Asian region is rather patchy and limited. Hence we utilized our National Cardiovascular Disease Database (NCVD)—Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) Registry to analyze young patients who underwent PCI in the year 2007 to 2009.DESIGN AND SETTINGSThis is a retrospective study of all patients who had undergone coronary angioplasty from 2007 to 2009 in 11 hospitals across Malaysia.METHODSData were obtained from the NCVD—PCI Registry, 2007 to 2009. Patients were categorized into 2 groups—young and old, where young was defined as less than 45 years for men and less than 55 years for women and old was defined as more than or equals to 45 years for men and more than or equals to 55 years for women. Patients’ baseline characteristics, risk factor profile, extent of coronary disease and outcome on discharge, and 30-day and 1-year follow-up were compared between the 2 groups.RESULTSWe analyzed 10 268 patients, and the prevalence of young CAD was 16% (1595 patients). There was a significantly low prevalence of Chinese patients compared to other major ethnic groups. Active smoking (30.2% vs 17.7%) and obesity (20.9% vs 17.3%) were the 2 risk factors more associated with young CAD. There is a preponderance toward single vessel disease in the young CAD group, and they had a favorable clinical outcome in terms of all-cause mortality at discharge (RR 0.49 [CI 0.26–0.94]) and 1-year follow-up (RR 0.47 [CI 0.19–1.15]).CONCLUSIONWe observed distinctive features of young CAD that would serve as a framework in the primary and secondary prevention of the early onset CAD.

Debunking the Notion of Nativization in the Pronunciation Variation at Segmental level among Non-Native ESL Teachers in Sabah, Malaysia

Pronunciation errors made by non–native speakers of the English language according to Swan and Smith (1987) should not be considered as random attempts to produce unfamiliar sounds and words but instead as a reflection of the segmental and supra segmental features of their native languages. For this reason, it is necessary for the English language teachers to be more aware of how the mother tongue of the non – native English speakers can have influence on the English pronunciation. The purpose of this research is to look into the issue of pronunciation variation among English language teachers of Kadazan ethnic background in the area of Tuaran and Tamparuli in Sabah, Malaysia. This research is qualitative in nature using ethnographic case study method. LeCompte and Schensel (1999) have detailed appropriate times to use ethnographic methods. They suggest the use of ethnography “when the problem is clear, but its causes are not well understood” (p30-31). Following this advice, we used components of ethnography to investigate the possible factors that lead to phonological variations in the consonant that develops as a result of student/teacher interactions. Therefore, in this study, researchers will focus on the ESL teachers of Kadazan ethnic who formed the dominant ethnic group in the state in Sabah. Furthermore, the availability of coded sound system of the Kadazandusun language lends itself well for ease of comparison. The data obtained in the research was analyzed using the contrastive analysis method. Here, the actual utterances were compared to the intended utterances to determine the specific consonant sounds that differ in both the utterances. The findings of this research proved that the L1 does have certain influence in the pronunciation of the English language. The consonantal features that are absent in the respondents’ L1 seem to be substituted with other sounds that are almost similar to the target sound.

Building Terminology in the Kadazandusun Language

In 1995, the Kadazandusun language was created as a standard form of all the Dusunic group of languages so that it might be taught in schools as a language subject. In the planning of Kadazandusun, terminology building involves both the creation of new terms that appropriate present-day categories and artefacts, and the selection of suitable terminology from a large pool of vocabularies. While the former task involves the more technical aspects of borrowing and word compounds, the latter is principle based and criteria dependent: Which terms should be selected out of the variety of language choices and on what basis? Based on interviews with members of the Kadazandusun terminology committee, this account of Kadazandusun terminology development examines the criteria set to govern selections; how cultural knowledge and values affect decision making; the resistance to borrowing dependency; the place of terminology within the Kadazandusun language plan; and the setting-up of a terminology panel. Language planning in the area of terminology development for the minority and indigenous Kadazandusun shows that while terminology discussions centre on making appropriate choices, the task itself is a complex one and requires language planners to be positive and committed if a terminology database is to be developed.

Changing the Language Ecology of Kadazandusun: The Role of the Kadazandusun Language Foundation

This article examines the role the Kadazandusun Language Foundation has played in changing the language ecology of the Kadazandusun language. Over the period of the last 15 years, the state of the Kadazandusun language has undergone major progression that includes the making of a trilingual Kadazan Dusun–Malay–English dictionary. This article also relates to the impact the language situation has had on changing attitudes toward mother-tongue use in the Kadazandusun community.

The form of priesthood in the Kadazan (Dusun) system of religion

The Kadazan (Dusun) people comprise the largest ethnic or community group in the area now known as the State of Sabah, Malaysia; prior to 1963 this territory was called British North Borneo. At about the same time many leaders of this group felt that the name Kadazan was more appropriate than Dusun – a sobriquet that had been bestowed on them by foreigners. Some, however, still prefer to call themselves Dusun. Approximately half of the Kadazans or Dusuns are Christian and about one-tenth are Muslims. Of the remainder some are mainly indifferent to religion, but some are devoted to the traditional forms of their ancient religious practices; and it is this section of the population that is of interest here.