There are a number of languages spoken in Brunei.Martin, P. W., & Poedjosoedarmo, G. (1996). An overview of the language situation in Brunei Darussalam. In P. W. Martin, C. Ozog & G. Poedjosoedarmo (Eds.), Language use & language change in Brunei Darussalam (pp. 1-23). Athens, Ohio: Ohio University Center for International Studies. The official language of the state of Brunei is Standard Malay, the same Malaccan dialect that is the basis for the standards in Malaysia and Indonesia.Gallop, 2006. "Brunei Darussalam: Language Situation". In This came into force on 29 September 1959, with the signing of Brunei 1959 Constitution.Language and Literature Bureau Brief History - retrieved 20-04-2007
Standard Malay Malay is specified as the national language of Brunei in the constitution of 1959,Hussainmiya, B. A. (2001). The Brunei constitution of 1959: An inside history, 2nd ed. Bandar Seri Begawan: Brunei Press. and its central role in the country is reinforced in the national philosophy of a "Islamic Malay Monarchy" (Melayu Islam Beraja).Jones, G. M. (2016). Changing patterns of education in Brunei: How past plans have shaped future trends. In Noor Azam H-O., J. McLellan & D. Deterding (Eds.), The use and status of Language in Brunei Darussalam (pp. 267-278). Singapore: Springer.
While the variety of Malay that functions as the national language is not specified, it is generally assumed to be a variety of Standard Malay that is similar to the standard varieties promoted in Malaysia and Indonesia.Clynes, A., & Deterding, D. (2011). Standard Malay (Brunei). Journal of the International Phonetic Association, 41, 259–268.On-line Version
In fact, the use of Standard Malay and Brunei Malay can be described under the concept of diglossia,Ferguson, C. A. (1959). Diglossia. Word, 15, 325-340. with Standard Malay taking the H(igh) role and being used in formal domains such as teaching and official speeches, while Brunei Malay functions in a L(ow) role, being used in informal domains such as between friends and in local shops.McLellan, J., Noor Azam H-O., & Deterding, D. (2016). The language situation in Brunei Darussalam. In Noor Azam H-O., J. McLellan & D. Deterding (Eds.), The use and status of Language in Brunei Darussalam (pp. 9-16). Singapore: Springer.
In terms of pronunciation, Standard Bruneian Malay share more phonetic features with Indonesian than Malaysian such as rhoticity (i.e [r] at the end of words such as besar "big") and a lack of final schwa (i.e. [a] rather than [ə]) at the end of words such as saya ('I') and utara ('north'). Pronunciation can differ slightly from that of Peninsular Malaysia, influenced by local dialects.Nothofer, B. (1991). The languages of Brunei Darussalam. In H. Steinhuaer (Ed.), Papers in Austronesian Linguistics (pp. 151–176). Canberra: Australian National University. Standard Bruneian Malay is also unique compared to Malaysian and Indonesian for its tendency of cresting pitch in enunciating penultimate syllables unless a schwa is present.
Brunei Malay
The local dialect, Brunei Malay, is the most widely spoken language. It is spoken by about 266,000 people. About 84% of its words are cognate with Standard Malay, while 94% are reported to be cognate with Kedayan.
Brunei Malay is also spoken as a lingua franca in some parts of East Malaysia such as the Federal Territory of Labuan, the districts of Limbang and Lawas (Sarawak) and the districts of Sipitang, Beaufort, Kuala Penyu and Papar (Sabah).Clynes, A. (2014). Brunei Malay: An overview. In P. Sercombe, M. Boutin & A. Clynes (Eds.), Advances in research on linguistic and cultural practices in Borneo (pp. 153-200). Phillips, ME: Borneo Research Council. In Brunei, use of Brunei Malay is expanding at the expense of the other indigenous minority languages in Brunei, most of which are under threat of extinction.Noor-Azam H-O., & Siti Ajeerah, N. (2016). The state of indigenous languages in Brunei. In Noor Azam H-O., J. McLellan & D. Deterding (Eds.), The use and status of Language in Brunei Darussalam (pp. 17-28). Singapore: Springer.
Some of the phonological features of Brunei Malay are: /h/ cannot occur in initial position, so Standard Malay habis (finish) is abis in Brunei Malay;DBPB (2007). Kamus Bahasa Melayu Brunei, 2nd ed. BSB: Dewean Bahasa dan Pustaka Brunei, p. 1. and there are only three vowels, /i, a, u/.Deterding, D., & Ishamina Athirah (2017). Brunei Malay. Journal of the International Phonetic Association, 47(1), 99–108. On-line Version For its syntax, it has been claimed that the verb often occurs in initial position,Poedjosoedarmo, G., & Hj Rosnah Hj Ramly (1996). Some notes on Brunei Malay syntax. In P. W. Martin, C. Ozog & G. Poedjosoedarmo (Eds), Language Use & Language Change in Brunei Darussalam (pp. 60-72). Athens, OH: Ohio University Center for International Studies. and there is a distinct set of modal verbs.Aznah, S. (2016). Comprehension of aspect markers by Brunei Malay L1 learners. In Noor Azam H-O., J. McLellan & D. Deterding (Eds.), The use and status of Language in Brunei Darussalam (pp. 75-94). Singapore: Springer.
The most salient difference between the pronunciation of Brunei Malay and Kedayan is that the latter has no /r/ sound,Faahirah, R., & Deterding, D. (2019). The pronunciation of Kedayan, South East Asia, 19, 78–85. On-line Version so rambut (hair) in Brunei Malay is ambut in Kedayan.DBPB (2006). Kamus Kedayan-Melayu Melayu-Kedayan. Berakas: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Brunei.
English
English is widely used as a business, all official documents are reproduced in English, and it is spoken by a majority of the population in Brunei,Deterding, D., & Salbrina, S. (2013). Brunei English: A New Variety in a Multilingual Society. Dordrecht: Springer. though some people have only a rudimentary knowledge of the language.Wood, A., Henry, A., Malai Ayla Hj Abd., & Clynes, A. (2011). English in Brunei: "She speaks excellent English" – "No he doesn't". In L. J. Zhang, R. Rubdy & L. Alsagoff (Eds.), Asian Englishes: Changing Perspectives in a Globalized World (pp. 52–66). Singapore: Pearson. There is one daily English language newspaper, Borneo Bulletin.
The bilingual system of education was introduced in 1985, with the first three years taught in Malay while English was the medium of instruction for most subjects from the fourth year of primary school onward,Jones, G. (1996). The Brunei education policy in Brunei Darussalam. In P. W. Martin, A. C. K. Ozog & G. Poedjoesoedarmo (eds.), Language Use and Language Change in Brunei Darussalam (123-132). Athens, OH: Ohio University Center for International Studies. so all school children have had substantial exposure to English since then. In 2008, the new SPN21 education system was introduced, and from then on, maths and science have been taught in English from the start of primary school, so the role of English is even more firmly established.
The language of the courts is mainly English,Hjh Masmahirah Hj Mohd Tali (2016). Courtroom discourse: A case study of the linguistic strategies in Brunei courtooms. In Noor Azam H-O., J. McLellan & D. Deterding (Eds.), The use and status of Language in Brunei Darussalam (pp. 135-163). Singapore: Springer. though, just as in Malaysia, code-switching between English and Malay is common.Powell, R. (2009). Language alternation in Malaysia courtrooms and comparisons with other common law jurisdictions. In M. K. David, J. McLellan, S. Rafik-Galea & A. N. Abdullah (Eds.), Code switching in Malaysi (pp. 135-149). Frankfurt: Peter Lang. While formal English is based on British English, American English is having increasing influence, and Brunei English is becoming distinct in its own right.
One result of the promotion of both English and Malay in Brunei is that minority languages, such as Tutong and Dusun, tend to get squeezed out. Noor Azam has described the situation using the Malay proverb: Gajah berperang, pelanduk mati di tengah-tengah. ('When elephants fight, the mouse-deer between them dies.')Noor Azam (2012). It's not always English: "Duelling Aunties" in Brunei Darussalam. In V. Rapatahana & P. Bunce (eds.), English Language as Hydra. Bristol: Multilingual Matters.
Some features of the pronunciation of English in Brunei are: the TH sound at the start of words such as thin and think tends to be pronounced as [t];Mossop, J. (1996). Some phonological features of Brunei English. In P. W. Martin, A. C. K. Ozog & G. Poedjoesoedarmo (eds.), Language Use and Language Change in Brunei Darussalam (189-208). Athens, OH: Ohio University Center for International Studies. vowel reduction is mostly avoided in function words such as of and that; and there is an increasing incidence of rhoticity.Salbrina, S., & Deterding, D. (2010). Rhoticity in Brunei English. English World-Wide 31: 121-137Nur Raihan Mohamad (2017). Rhoticity in Brunei English : A diachronic approach. Southeast Asia, 17, 1-7. PDF Version
Indonesian Due to the increasing immigration from the Indonesian population to Brunei, it also increases the usage of the Indonesian language throughout the country. This includes the increasing usage in day-to-day conversations as well as business related activities such as advertising.6 countries that use Indonesian - retrieved 14-08-2024
Indonesians are one of the major migrants in Brunei with around 80,000 of Indonesians residing in the country that has a total population of around 430,000 as of 2022.
Chinese The Chinese minority in Brunei speak a number of Chinese varieties.Brunei at a Glance BruDirect - retrieved 20-04-2007 The main varieties of Chinese spoken include Hokkien, Cantonese and Hakka.Xu, S. (2016). A comparison of the vowels of Brunei Mandarin and Beijing Mandarin. In Noor Azam H-O., J. McLellan & D. Deterding (Eds.), The use and status of Language in Brunei Darussalam (pp. 57-74). Singapore: Springer.
Mandarin is the language of instruction in some Chinese schools, and there are also some radio broadcasts in Mandarin. Mandarin is also used as the lingua franca among the Chinese community.Dunseath, K. (1996). Aspects of language maintenance and language shift among the Chinese community in Brunei. In P. W. Martin, C. Ozog & G. Poedjosoedarmo (Eds), Language Use & Language Change in Brunei Darussalam (pp. 280-301). Athens, OH: Ohio University Center for International Studies.
Indigenous languages Apart from Brunei Malay and Kedayan, the latter which may be considered a dialect of Malay, five indigenous minority ethnic groups are officially recognised in Brunei, each with their own language: Tutong, Belait, Dusun (Brunei), Bisaya, and Murut. Each of these five minority languages is threatened with extinction, though it has been reported that Murut (which is spoken mostly in the enclave of Temburong) is relatively healthy, partly because it receives some support across the Malaysian border in Lawas, where it is known as Lun Bawang.Coluzzi, P. (2011). Endangered languages in Borneo: A survey among the Iban and Murut (Lun Bawang) in Temburong Brunei. Oceanic Linguistics, 49(1), 119-143.
Of these minority languages, Dusun and Bisaya are quite similar, and some have claimed they are varieties of the same language.Gardiner, I. A., Deterding, D., & Yabit Alas (2019). The pronunciation of Dusun. South East Asia, 19, 14–21. On-line Version It is also sometimes suggested that Tutong and Belait are related,Martin, P. W., & Poedjoesoedarmo, G. (1996). An overview of the language situation in Brunei Darussalam. In P. W. Martin, A. C. K. Ozog & G. Poedjoesoedarmo (eds.), Language Use and Language Change in Brunei Darussalam (pp. 1–23). Athens, OH: Ohio University Center for International Studies. though the level of shared lexicon for these two languages is just 54%.