About Us
A Vibrant Community Organization Celebrating and Preserving Melanau Heritage
We are the Melanau Association, a vibrant and dedicated community organization committed to celebrating, preserving, and promoting the rich cultural heritage of the Melanau people.
Our association brings together individuals from all walks of life who share a common interest in the traditions, customs, and values of the Melanau community. We strive to create a sense of belonging and pride among our members while fostering a deeper understanding of our unique cultural identity.
Introduction
The Melanau Ajang-Malay Dictionary (BMA-BM) is the result of the collective efforts of the residents of Kuala Rajang. This group includes individuals residing in the local villages as well as those who have relocated to other areas.
The initial scholarly attempt to compile a dictionary was undertaken by the late Zaini Oje@Ozea during the 1980s and 1990s while working at Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP). Zaini, a graduate in English Literature from the University of Malaya and holder of a Diploma in Applied Linguistics from RELC Singapore, started his service at DBP Sarawak in 1981 before moving to the headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. He was later promoted to Director of DBP Sabah in 2002 and Director of DBP Sarawak in 2004.
The manuscript prepared by Zaini was handed over by DBP Sarawak to Hardi Keli when he was appointed as a collaborator for the Sarawak native languages by DBP Sarawak in 2017. This appointment was based on Hardi Keli's active involvement in the Melanau Association of Kuching at that time. Zaini's manuscript listed 6,680 items including basic words in BMA, derived words, their corresponding Malay (BM) words, and example sentences in both BMA and BM. Approximately 1,400 root words were listed.
Unaware of Zaini's manuscript, a group of Rajang residents started collecting BMA words through the Telegram app in 2015. Participants would send words via the app, which were then compiled with their BM definitions into an Excel file. This effort continued using WhatsApp to involve more participants, resulting in 2,900 words listed by February 8, 2016. The lists from these efforts were later merged with Zaini's list, totaling 3,011 words by July 26, 2017.
An interim spelling system was developed by Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr. Yusuf Hadi in 2017 to standardize the spelling in BMA. This system was refined based on feedback and is used in the current edition of the dictionary.
In 2017, the Kamus Ajang Steering Committee was established to coordinate the collection of BMA words using the General Data Collection Form for Sarawak Native Languages provided by DBP. By June 26, 2019, 2,260 words, along with derived words and example sentences in both BMA and BM, were compiled from a total of 2,872 words listed in an Excel file.
Activities related to the dictionary were halted during the Movement Control Order (MCO) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The existing materials were collected and made available online at the N41 Kuala Rajang Service Center in Tanjung Manis.
After the MCO, three workshops were held to expand the word list and update the spelling and meanings of existing words. These workshops were organized by the N41 Kuala Rajang Service Center and DBP Sarawak. 1. First Workshop - 'Building the Melanau Ajang Dictionary' held at Dewan Masyarakat Kampung Rajang from August 12-14, 2022, involving 47 participants from Kampung Rajang, Jerijeh, and Belawai. New words were recorded, and existing words were validated. 2. Second Workshop - 'Refining the Melanau Ajang Dictionary' held at Hotel Samudra Kuching from September 18-24, 2022, with 40 participants. A total of 4,300 Melanau Ajang words with example sentences were recorded. 3. Third Workshop - Held at Hotel Samudra Kuching from November 7-11, 2022, involving 15 participants to verify and improve the meanings and example sentences of existing words.
The documents from these workshops were meticulously reviewed by several committee members in Kuching to refine the spelling, meanings, and appropriateness of the sentences. The most suitable sentences were chosen from four sources: (a) the late Zaini's manuscript, (b) the 2017 Kamus Ajang Steering Committee's work, (c) the September 2022 Samudra workshop, and (d) the November 2022 Samudra workshop. The refined materials were used in this initial edition of the dictionary.
This initial edition of the BMA-BM Dictionary aims to spark interest among more BMA speakers to contribute words not yet included. They are also encouraged to provide meanings and corresponding BM words. Future editions will include additional items such as parts of speech (e.g., nouns, adjectives, adverbs), synonyms, antonyms, and more. There are also suggestions to prepare a BM-BMA glossary to help BM speakers find corresponding BMA words, and similarly, an English (BI)-BMA glossary to aid English speakers in finding BMA equivalents. Users can refer to this dictionary for pronunciation and usage in both speech and writing.
Yusuf Hadi
Abang Ahmad Abang Baha
Ali Rahman bin Rashid
Awangko' Hamdan Pengiran Arshad
Bedui Unea (late)
Hardi Keli
Marina Anshari
Rosnani bin Kipli
Zainal Abiddin Ahmad
Zeliha@Raniah Johari
Acknowledgments (Penghargaan)
We extend our utmost appreciation and gratitude to the following individuals for their invaluable contributions to the preparation of this Bahasa Melanau Ajang (BMA) Dictionary:
Key Contributors
Community Contributions
Workshop Participants and Organizing Committees
Detailed List of Committee Members and Workshop Participants
The names of committee members and workshop participants are as follows:
Datuk Haji Len Talif Salleh
Datuk Yusuf Hadi
Ustaz Hj Mohd Trang Bin Issa
Abd Rahman Demi
Aden Salleh
Saadi Saon
Zainal Abidin Ahmad
Baijuri Jaujie
Hardi Keli
Hjh Zeliha@Raniah Johari
Ismail Abg Ibrahim
Marina Anshari
Wahid Uji
YB Datuk Haji Len Talif Salleh
YB Datuk Abdullah Saidol
YB Yusuf Wahab
Datuk Yusuf Hadi
Datuk Hamden Ahmad
Abd Rahman Demi
Cikgu Ali Rahman b Rashid
Cikgu Bedui Unea
Ismail Abg Ibrahim
Kelana Kipli
Marina Anshari
Abg Ahmad Abg Baha
Aden Salleh
Attar Salleh
Baijuri Jaujie
Hardi Keli
Hjh Zeliha@Raniah Johari
Rosnani bin Kipli (Man Kot)
Saadi Saon
Wahid Uji
Wan Kasim Sayed Jamil
Zainal Abidin Ahmad
Participants from Kampung Rajang:
Awg Adnan b Awg Undol
Awg Adeni b Awg Undol
Penghulu Abu Seman b Masri
Cikgu Masniah binti Ali
Cikgu Muhamad b Bujang
Fatin Fityah bt Kamarol
Nur Ain Syafiqah bt Mazlan Mohd
Hj Bakar b Umar
Cikgu Hj Morshidi b Ali
Hj Salleh b Bujang
Hjh Dyg Zubaidah bt Abg Je
Iffat Najmi b Kamarol
Masni bt Ozea
Participants from Kampung Jerijeh:
Demadi bin Maharon
Jeffery binti Jan
Julai bin Megon
Habsah binti Tering
Halim bin Ramli
Kaadi bin Sidek
Meliki bin Serjen
Mohtadar bin Wau
Muhibah binti Majid
Nur Aisha Samira binti Kardi
Norhidayah binti Johari
Pendita bin Bakeri
Shamsudin bin Senin
Nurfaizza Binti Saimon
Penghulu Rosli Mat
Participants from Kampung Belawai:
Berahim bin Mong
Bugam bin Keri
Hj. Dewa bin Atei
Duri bin Hassan
Hj. Hakim bin Ela
Hj. Majidi bin Mahmud
Hj. Morshidi bin Wahid
Julen bin Keri
Majeri bin Dollah
Muzir bin Junaidi
Salat bin Bogil
Wahid Bin Spawi (Luwet)
Awg Adnan b Awg Undol
Awg Adeni b Awg Undol
Cikgu Mohammad b Bujang
Cikgu Abu Seman b Masri
Fatin Fityah bt Kamarol
Habsah binti Tering
Hj Bakar bin Umar
Hj Diwa Bin Ate
Hj Morshidi Ali
Hjh Dyg Zubaidah bt Abg Je
Ibrahim Bin Mong
Kalali b. Klen
Latifah binti Ahmat
Mohtadar bin Wau@Waw
Mohd Azlan b. Bujak Abul
Mohd Iffat Najmi b Kamarol
Morshidi bin Moris
Morshidi bin Wahid
Muhibah binti Majid
Muzir bin Junaidi
Norhidayah binti Abdullah
Norliana binti Unop
Nur Ain Syafiqah binti Mazlan
Nurfaizzah binti Saimon
Nurul Faraliza Norhidayah Johari
Hasdianna binti Matali
Nur Aisha Shamira binti Kardi
Wahid Bin Spawi (Luwet)
Datuk Dr Yusuf Hadi
Abang Ahmad Abang Baha
Apandi Yaman
Cikgu Ali Rahman b Rashid
Cikgu Bedui Unea
Cikgu Hj Yusuf Omar
Cikgu Norsiah Hj Bujang
Cikgu Osmi Hj Obeng
Cikgu Sakiah Uji
Hardi Keli
Hjh Zeliha @ Raniah Johari
Marina Anshari
Morshidi Tundok
Rosnani bin Kipli (Man Kot)
Wan Kasim Sayed Jamil
We express our gratitude to all committee members, workshop participants, and individuals involved for their dedication, effort, and collaboration in making this dictionary a reality.
Interim Spelling System for the Melanau Ajang Language (BMA) (version 090523)
Introduction
This interim spelling system aims to accurately represent the pronunciation of words in the Melanau Ajang Language (BMA), making it easier for users to pronounce words correctly. The spelling is based on the Malay Language (BM) but includes several additions to enhance pronunciation in BMA.
The alphabet used is the same as in BM. Three types of vowel usage are introduced based on short, long, and combined pronunciations. Short pronunciations are spelled using single vowels (a, e, é, i, o, u). Long pronunciations use double vowels (aa, éé, ii, oo, uu). Combined pronunciations consist of two syllables: the first ending with a vowel followed by the second starting with a vowel. These combined syllables are connected with an apostrophe (‘).
In BMA, there are pronunciation differences between the consonants k and q, between the vowels é and i, and between u and o. Additionally, different consonants are used for the same term depending on the speaker's pronunciation, including initial b and p, and final b and p, q and g, as well as b and t.
The usage of vowels and consonants is explained below.
Vowels
The vowels a, e, i, o, u, é are used. Both pepet (e) and taling (é) vowels are utilized.
Examples of words based on the length of pronunciation:
| Vowel | Short Pronunciation | Long Pronunciation | Combined Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| a | apan (ambil) | paan (umpan, perencah) | pa'an (lenguh) |
| bai (punya) | baai (cawat) | ba'ai (basi) |
Other words requiring an apostrophe: da'au, tu'au.
Note the differences in sound between é and i, and between o and u in BMA:
| é & i |
alér (pinggang seluar terlalu rendah) aliir (kail untuk tangkap buaya) |
badék (pisau) | badiik (subuh) |
| o & u |
bol (bola) bul (bohong) |
labok (labu) | labuuk (jatuh) |
Consonants
The consonants k and q are used at the end of words to represent different final k sounds. The k consonant at the end of a syllable is pronounced softly, like in "emak" and "hendak". The q consonant is pronounced explosively, like in "falak" and "Iraq".
Examples:
asaak (asah)
asaaq (rehatkan)
The consonant c in BM is often pronounced as s in traditional BMA. Some contemporary users prefer using c. Examples:
Examples:
kasang → kacang
basa → baca
The consonant f is usually pronounced as p:
Examples:
paham (faham)
nyabiik maap (minta maaf)
The consonant z is pronounced as j:
Examples:
ajap (azab)
jeman (zaman)
There are no words that begin with q, v, or x.
Three main elements distinguish BMA spelling from BM:
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1. BMA spelling has three vowel sounds: short, long, and combined. These sounds are represented by single vowels, double vowels, and an apostrophe between combined vowels, respectively.
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2. Different vowels e/é, é/i, and u/o are used to differentiate the pronunciation of certain terms.
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3. The consonants k and q are used to differentiate between the soft and explosive final k sounds.