CAPITAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE INDIGENOUS: AN APPRAISAL OF ZA’BA’S THOUGHTS ON LANGUAGE AND LINGUISTICS

Abstract

Za’ba, Malay linguist of the 20th century, had already begun analysing the Malay language using empirical data since the 1920s.  His approach is manifold:  reflective, discursive, context-based, inductive and prescriptive.  Many of his ideas seem to be precursors to certain theories in grammar, phonology and graphology, semantics and discourse, which linguists of today are familiar with through books written by Western scholars with data from other languages.  However, Za’ba was not familiar with those theories when he wrote his books on Malay and used them in teacher-training at the Sultan Idris Training College, Tanjong Malim, and those theories were not yet well-published at the time.  This paper is an appraisal of his thoughts on language, its primary role in thinking, and the teaching of language where all systems should be treated in a holistic manner.