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Article published In: Writing Systems: Past, present (… and future?)
Edited by Terry Joyce and Robert Crellin
[Written Language & Literacy 22:2] 2019
► pp. 280–306

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Developing a unified orthography for Berawan

An endangered Bornean language

 | Sunway University
 | University Putra Malaysia
Published online: 30 March 2020
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/wll.00029.bur
Abstract
Berawan is a small ethnic community, numbering fewer than 4,000 members, in the Malaysian state of Sarawak on Borneo Island. There are four language varieties; namely, Long Jegan (LJG), Batu Belah (BB), Long Teru (LTU) and Long Terawan (LTN). This paper describes the development of the preliminary unified Berawan orthography by the authors, in collaboration with representatives from three Berawan communities (BB, LTU and LJG). Smalley’s (Smalley, William A. (1959). How shall I write this language? The Bible Translator 10(2): 49–69. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar, (1965). Orthographic studies: Articles on new writing systems. London: United Bible Societies.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar) criteria for orthography development are discussed in relation to the authors’ stage framework for orthographic development, which has been adapted from Rempel, Robin. (1995). Alphabet development guide. Read 30 (2):27–37.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar within the context of developing the Berawan orthography and the orthographic decisions made by the Berawan. Two additional factors for orthography implementation are proposed. The first stresses the importance of adequate testing, which is essential for both obtaining objective measurements to inform decision making and establishing a well-designed and effective orthography. The second new factor emphasizes the importance of having sufficient time available to learn the developed orthography.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
    • 1.1The Berawan language family
    • 1.2Background to orthography development for Berawan
    • 1.3Aims and objectives
  • 2.Conceptual framework
    • 2.1Design criteria
    • 2.2Implementation criteria
    • 2.3Development stages
  • 3.Results and discussion
    • 3.1Design criteria
      • 3.1.1Criterion 1: Maximum motivation for the learner
      • 3.1.2Criterion 2: Maximum representation of speech
      • 3.1.3Criterion 3: Maximum ease of learning
      • 3.1.4Criterion 4: Maximum transfer
      • 3.1.5Criterion 5: Maximum ease of reproduction
    • 3.2Implementation criteria
      • 3.2.1Adequate testing
      • 3.2.2Sufficient time
    • 3.3Development stages
  • 4.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
References (21)
References
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Cited by two other publications

Beguš, Gašper & Maksymilian Dąbkowski
2025. The blurring history of intervocalic devoicing. Journal of Linguistics 61:2 ► pp. 211 ff. DOI logo
Burkhardt, Jürgen Martin , Jey Lingam Burkhardt & Ang Lay Hoon
2020. One Orthography, Four Lects: The Unified Berawan Orthography. Journal of Borneo-Kalimantan 6:1 DOI logo

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