The Influence of Dialects in Communication on the Level of Confidence of Secondary Students in Kota Bharu, Kelantan

Abstract

Kelantan is a state with a unique dialect and its people are equipped with very high levels of southern identity. Owing to the Kelantaneses’ frequent use of the Kelantan dialect in their daily communication, this has led to them having difficulties communicating in languages other than in the Kelantan dialect. Additionally , this extreme dialect usage also exposes students to problems of distinguishing the Malay language with the local dialect. Studies have shown that the dialect usage caused students to have low confidence level during classroom learning processes. It is also due to teachers’ emphasizing the local dialect in the classroom. Therefore, this article aims to examine the dialect usage during the learning process in the classroom and the impact of dialects in influencing the level of confidence of secondary school students in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. This study used qualitative methods on 21 secondary students, which included in-depth interviews and non-participant observations. In-depth interview methods was used to examine the dialect usage in the classroom and the impact of dialects on students' confidence levelwhile, non-participant observation method was used to observe the student’s body language and change of emotions throughout the field study. Findings show that dialects are not a major factor affecting secondary school student’s confidence levels in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. This paper also discusses on the importance of strengthening the effective communication skills and mastering the Malay language.