Penguasaan bahasa Melayu dalam kalangan murid pekak: suatu sorotan dari perspektif linguistik

Abstract

The Malay language subject plays an important role in the Malaysian education system. The deaf pupils who are unable to hear speech sound also have to perform well in the subject although it is so problematic to them. This article investigates the performance and problems faced by the deaf pupils in learning Malay language based on the linguistic view. The result of the study is important to all parties who are involved in educating the deaf since the language is a compulsory subject for obtaining a certificate in the national examination. A pass grade in the subject is also one of the criteria for applying jobs in the government services. As such, poor performance in the Malay language paper will result in some negative impacts in the future of the deaf. This article also identifies factors that cause difficulty to the deaf in performing well. Based on the linguistic views, the characteristics of the Malay language are difficult to many of the deaf to master. They do not acquire the language as hearing pupils do. Apart from that, many of the deaf do not have early and enough exposure to the language. Another aim of this article is to prove that 'hearing problem 'faced by many of the deaf are not the main factor that prevent them from getting better grade in the subject. A few suggestions were also drawn up on how to help this group of pupils to achieve better. It is hoped that by understanding the situation mentioned, the teacher of the deaf will identify: (1) the processes of acquiring and learning the language, (2) the difficulty faced by the deaf in learning the language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) (3) the relationship between acquiring and learning language and the difficulty faced by them, and ( 4) the strategies to help the deaf to achieve better grade in the Malay language paper.