BAKONG DIALECT: THE FADED GEM OF BAKONG ETHNICITY IN MIRI, SARAWAK

Abstract

Bakong ethnicity is a minority among the numbers of local tribes in Sarawak, Malaysia. They have their language, and ominously less of the new generation knows how to speak their ancestral Bakong dialect. Thus, this study aims to understand the uniqueness of Bakong dialect and examine the importance of inheriting the language for the future generation. The methodology applied for this study is qualitative such as the literature review, case study, and interview. The findings indicate the origin of Bakong ethnicity, the uniqueness of Bakong dialect in literature, and the future perception of the faded language. Bakong dialect has been applied in folklore literature, and it reminisces the Bakong ethnicity’s daily socio-culture. It consists of the culture, belief, and routine of Bakong ethnicity as the guideline, advice, and example for the descendants of Bakong ethnicity. Therefore, the Bakong dialect should be preserved and cherished to understand the value of Bakong heritage. The Bakong ethnicity folklore documentation potentially becomes the reference for national ethnicity linguistic, education, and cultural heritage.