Orang Kanaq language
Encyclopedia
Orang Kanaq language is one of the Aboriginal Malay languages
and it is grouped under the Austonesian Language family. It is spoken by the Orang Kanaq, which is one of the 19 Orang Asli
groups living in Peninsular Malaysia. It is listed as one of the endangered languages in Asia.
Orang Kanaq is a variant of Malay
which is distinct from the dialects spoken by ethnic Malays living near them.
(lit. "original people") are the aboriginal tribes inhabiting the rainforests of the Malay peninsula. Most are believed to have migrated to the region over a long period between 8000 and 3000 years ago, following the southward movement of peoples throughout South-East Asia. A 1970 census gave an overall figure of nearly 71,000 people.
The Orang Kanaq are one of the Proto-Malay
tribes. Proto-Malays live among the straits of Malacca and in Southern Johore. Some have been absorbed into the Malay community.
. They started to migrate to Peninsula Malaysia in around 1784. Initially, they settled at Mawai Lama, Kota Tinggi but relocated to Selayang during the Malayan Emergency
during the 1950s. Currently, they are situated at Kampung Sungai Selangi, Mawai, Kota Tinggi
. They are considered to be one of the country's earliest inhabitants even though they have been living on the Peninsula for only about 200 years.
Out of the 147,412 Orang Asli from 18 tribes in Malaysia, the Kanaqs make up the smallest number. The inhabitants of the Sungai Selangi village comprise 87 Orang Kanaq people, including 3 Malays, from 23 families. The village took shape in 1965, with only 40 Kanaq residents from 10 families.
In the past, the Orang Kanaq were slave workers tapping trees in rubber plantations. Today, they lag behind in modern technology and education and are still working as labourers in rubber and shrub plantations. It is difficult for the close-knitted Orang Kanaq community to be separated as they avoid marrying outsiders. They believe that such unions will bring curses upon their tribe. Low birthrates have caused their numbers to dwindle over the years.
Although, the population of the Orang Kanaq is dwindling, according to the Center of Orang Asli concern, the Orang Kanaq language is still very much vibrant.
Aboriginal Malay languages
The Aboriginal Malay languages is a group of languages spoken by the Orang Asli community in Peninsular Malaysia. There are four languages in the group:...
and it is grouped under the Austonesian Language family. It is spoken by the Orang Kanaq, which is one of the 19 Orang Asli
Orang Asli
Orang Asli , is a generic Malaysian term used for people indigenous to Peninsular Malaysia...
groups living in Peninsular Malaysia. It is listed as one of the endangered languages in Asia.
Orang Kanaq is a variant of Malay
Malay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
which is distinct from the dialects spoken by ethnic Malays living near them.
Geographic Distribution
The Orang AsliOrang Asli
Orang Asli , is a generic Malaysian term used for people indigenous to Peninsular Malaysia...
(lit. "original people") are the aboriginal tribes inhabiting the rainforests of the Malay peninsula. Most are believed to have migrated to the region over a long period between 8000 and 3000 years ago, following the southward movement of peoples throughout South-East Asia. A 1970 census gave an overall figure of nearly 71,000 people.
The Orang Kanaq are one of the Proto-Malay
Proto Malay
The term Proto-Malay which translates to Melayu asli or Melayu purba , are the Mongoloids and Austronesian speakers from mainland Asia who moved to the Malay peninsular and Malay archipelago in a long series of migration between 2500 and 1500 BC.The Proto-Malays are believed to be seafarers...
tribes. Proto-Malays live among the straits of Malacca and in Southern Johore. Some have been absorbed into the Malay community.
Sounds
The language of Orang Kanaq shows similarities to the Malay language, especially in terms of its lexicon and sound system.Speakers
The Orang Kanaq were originally from Pulau Sekanak in the Riau Islands of IndonesiaIndonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. They started to migrate to Peninsula Malaysia in around 1784. Initially, they settled at Mawai Lama, Kota Tinggi but relocated to Selayang during the Malayan Emergency
Malayan Emergency
The Malayan Emergency was a guerrilla war fought between Commonwealth armed forces and the Malayan National Liberation Army , the military arm of the Malayan Communist Party, from 1948 to 1960....
during the 1950s. Currently, they are situated at Kampung Sungai Selangi, Mawai, Kota Tinggi
Kota Tinggi
Kota Tinggi is a town in the state of Johor of Malaysia, located around 42 kilometers north-east of Johor Bahru, on the road to Mersing. Hometown of Azizul Hanipah. Kota Tinggi can also be reached by ferry from Changi terminal in Singapore where tourists need to pass through the immigration check...
. They are considered to be one of the country's earliest inhabitants even though they have been living on the Peninsula for only about 200 years.
Out of the 147,412 Orang Asli from 18 tribes in Malaysia, the Kanaqs make up the smallest number. The inhabitants of the Sungai Selangi village comprise 87 Orang Kanaq people, including 3 Malays, from 23 families. The village took shape in 1965, with only 40 Kanaq residents from 10 families.
In the past, the Orang Kanaq were slave workers tapping trees in rubber plantations. Today, they lag behind in modern technology and education and are still working as labourers in rubber and shrub plantations. It is difficult for the close-knitted Orang Kanaq community to be separated as they avoid marrying outsiders. They believe that such unions will bring curses upon their tribe. Low birthrates have caused their numbers to dwindle over the years.
Although, the population of the Orang Kanaq is dwindling, according to the Center of Orang Asli concern, the Orang Kanaq language is still very much vibrant.
Study By Non-native Speakers
A study reported there are only 83 native speakers of the Orang Kanaq Language. It has also reported that all members of the Orang Kanaq tribe are able to understand the language. However, the language's lexicon has largely been influenced by the Malay Language.See also
- Orang AsliOrang AsliOrang Asli , is a generic Malaysian term used for people indigenous to Peninsular Malaysia...
- Austronesian LanguagesAustronesian languagesThe Austronesian languages are a language family widely dispersed throughout the islands of Southeast Asia and the Pacific, with a few members spoken on continental Asia that are spoken by about 386 million people. It is on par with Indo-European, Niger-Congo, Afroasiatic and Uralic as one of the...
- Malay LanguagesMalay languagesThe Malay languages are a group of closely related languages that developed from Malay outposts across Malaysia and Indonesia. They include Malay proper , Bacanese Malay, Bengkulu, Berau Malay, Cocos Islands Malay, Jambi Malay, Kedah Malay, Kota Bangun Kutai Malay, Loncong, Pattani Malay,...
- Aboriginal Malay languagesAboriginal Malay languagesThe Aboriginal Malay languages is a group of languages spoken by the Orang Asli community in Peninsular Malaysia. There are four languages in the group:...
- List of endangered languages in Asia