Dahun Kayan nih uh seng pade'
Kurin Ethnologue, website aleng bara itam marung tuk-tuk dahun tek usun tana, seng levah lan nah dahun tam Kayan nih kuirn daha. Bi usi kah jam lelan na nuno gaya dahun Kayan nih tek hang tam. Iha pah itam kuri-kuri libu kurin daha dih (27,000), bi usi jam tek kah itam lim jam na dahun Kayan.
Avin uh usi nah itam melo uma aru, kahum tam uh te' murip ha hawang daleh, jadi usi nah itam (dahin daha anak tam) nuno na dahun Kayan. Avin ha nutih, jadi hado nah itam bale' tek dahun tam, ure' lahuh daha nyam tam usi nah daha nuno na dahun Kayan. Ju tek kah kurik kuri-kuri tek hang telo aleng na dahun Kayan men anak telo, bi kahum lelan pah aleng uh em nuno na dahun Kayan dahin anak dahin so' daha la'an.
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Deng kah ita' ngiyok, tek kuri-kuri duman aleng seng la'an, mina legak nah status dahun tam nih tei Level 7 - shifting; avin usi nah itam nuno na dahun Kayan nih men daha anak tam dahin tek hang tam lahuh. Tavit itam uh melo ha ha'oh, dahin murip tek hang kelunan hawang daleh, jadi menggalei nah itam na dahun halok, dahun orang putih ato' dahun daha hivan (Iban). Sayu lim kah atih, avin itam uh nei ateng dahin piyah ilo urip tek hang kelunan bagu, tadak na itam sayu tek urip tam. Bi meng kah itam seng hadau tek asen dahin pu'un tam kelunan Kayan. Alem lim-lim tuk urip adat tam, ji aleng sayu tam lo' tek hang tam iha nah dahun tam.
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The Kayan language status
Based on Ethnologue, the Kayan language is endangered, falling at 6b-threatened, on Fishman (1991)’s Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scales (GIDS) grid. This means the language is at risk of language shift, attrition, and death.
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The precise number of speakers and the exact status of the Kayan language among the estimated 27,000 Kayan in Sarawak is unknown. More research is needed to provide an accurate data on the number and the level of competency of the speakers. In recent years, most young generation have moved out from their ancestral home to find work in the cities. Due to assimilation to more dominant languages, and lack of generational transmission, there is real threat of language loss amongst young Kayan.
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It wouldn't be far fetched to say that in the years to come the status of the language may fall to Level 7 - shifting. This means Kayan speakers may have shifted to another language as many of us may no longer speak Kayan to our children or even among ourselves. Most would then be living in the cities, living among people who are not Kayan; therefore, we may be more likely to speak Malay, English or even Iban. This is also commendable, because that would mean we Kayan have 'arrived', and are equally capable to earn our living in the cities. Still, let us remember our asen and pu'un (origin/identity) as amongst all things cultural and traditional that should be treasured, language forefronts it all. Thus, it is crucial that we continue to speak the language, and be intentional in passing the language to our children.
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Competent speakers are often found
among this two generations of speakers.
Pic: (Front) Roselind Wan (Behind) Luhong Anyi
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