Tabu bahasa dalam aktiviti ekonomi masyarakat Iban di Sungai Passai, Sarawak (Language taboo in economic activities of the Iban communities in Sungai Passai, Sarawak)

Abstract

Masyarakat Iban Sarawak merupakan rumpun Dayak yang terdapat di Kepulauan Borneo. Masyarakat peribumi ini kaya dengan pelbagai warisan adat resam yang menjadi panduan dalam kehidupan bermasyarakat. Ritual dan pantang larang adalah antara amalan yang dipraktikkan dalam pelbagai kegiatan hidup termasuklah dalam aktiviti ekonomi. Sehubungan itu, timbul persoalan tentang apakah pantang larang atau tabu daripada aspek bahasa yang diamalkan oleh masyarakat Iban dalam aktiviti ekonomi mereka? Apakah fungsi tabu bahasa tersebut dan faktor yang mempengaruhi penggunaannya? Justeru, makalah ini bertujuan membincangkan jenis tabu bahasa, fungsi tabu bahasa serta faktor penggunaannya dalam kegiatan ekonomi masyarakat Iban. Untuk tujuan tersebut, kajian lapangan dijalankan di petempatan masyarakat Iban di Sungai Passai, Sibu Sarawak. Data diperoleh melalui kaedah temu bual dan rakaman yang melibatkan tujuh informan penutur natif bahasa Iban, berdasarkan kriteria NORM/F. Data dianalisis secara deskriptif selaras dengan objektif kajian. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa tabu bahasa dalam kegiatan ekonomi masyarakat Iban di Sungai Passai diamalkan dalam aktiviti penanaman padi, perikanan, perburuan dan pengutipan hasil hutan. Tabu bahasa berfungsi untuk mengekalkan kesejahteraan dalam masyarakat, semasa menjalankan aktiviti ekonomi dan untuk menjamin pendapatan yang lumayan. Faktor utama tabu bahasa diamalkan oleh masyarakat Iban di Sungai Passai disebabkan oleh pengaruh budaya tradisi yang telah sebati dengan kehidupan mereka sejak turun-temurun. Selain itu, faktor sikap dan faktor taraf hidup juga turut mempengaruhi penggunaan tabu bahasa dalam masyarakat ini. Kesimpulannya, masyarakat Iban di Sungai Passai mengamalkan tabu bahasa dalam aktiviti ekonomi harian mereka, demi menjamin kesejahteraan dalam masyarakat dan amalan ini dipengaruhi oleh faktor budaya, sikap dan taraf hidup mereka.

Kata kunci: aktiviti ekonomi, budaya, Iban, Sarawak, Sungai Passai, tabu bahasa

The Iban community in Sarawak is a branch of the Dayak people of the Borneo Islands. This indigenous community is rich in various customary heritages that serve as a guide in the life of the community. Rituals and taboos are among the practices practiced in various activities of life, including economic activities. In this regard, the question arises as to whether the language taboo practiced by the Iban community in their economic activities? What is the function of the language taboo and the factors that influence its use? Thus, this paper aims to discuss the types and functions of language taboos and the factors of their use in the economic activities of the Iban community. For that purpose, a field study was conducted in the Iban community settlement in Sungai Passai, Sibu Sarawak. Data were obtained through interviews and recordings which involved seven native speakers of the Iban language, based on the NORMF criteria. The data was analysed descriptively in line with the research objectives. The findings showed that the taboo language in economic activities in the Iban Passai community is practiced in paddy cultivation, fishing, hunting and forest harvesting. Language taboos serve to maintain well-being in society while carrying out economic activities and to ensure a lucrative income. The main factor of language taboo practiced by the Iban community at the Sungai Passai is due to the influence of traditional culture that has been practised by generation from generation. In addition, attitude and standard of living factors also influence the usage of language taboo in this community. In conclusion, the Iban community in Sungai Passai practices taboo language in their various daily economic activities, which aim to ensure well-being in the community and this practice is influenced by their cultural factors, attitudes and living standards.

Keywords: economic activity, culture, Iban, Sarawak, Sungai Passai, language taboo