Bidayuh Proverbs with Animal and Plant Elements: A Reflection of Culture and Philosophy
Indigenous communities refer to animals and plants extensively in their folk proverbs. In this study an examination was conducted involving Bidayuh proverbs, with animal and plant elements, of the Bau Jagoi community in Sarawak, Malaysia by (a) categorising them according to the type and frequenc...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Asia-Pacific International University
2021
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/37321/1/Florence%20G.%20Kayad.pdf http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/37321/ https://so01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/hbds/about |
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| Summary: | Indigenous communities refer to animals and plants extensively in their folk proverbs. In this
study an examination was conducted involving Bidayuh proverbs, with animal and plant elements, of
the Bau Jagoi community in Sarawak, Malaysia by (a) categorising them according to the type and
frequency of animal and plant elements used, and (b) analysing their implied and implicit meaning
using inquisitive semantics approach. Data were collected from interviews with 12 Bidayuh
informants aged 23 to 84 who lived in the same village. A total of 33 Bidayuh proverbs were elicited
comprising 20 with animal elements and 13 with plant elements. The behaviours of the animals
were associated with mostly negative behaviours in human whereas the characteristics of the plants
were used to describe desirable human traits and appearance. The proverbs were also used to
describe complex situations, teach moral values and good manners, express intense feelings, and
give advice about life. Their deep meaning was related to the people’s living environment and way of
life, their thinking and ethics, their beliefs, and customary practices, which reflect their culture and
philosophy.
Keywords: Bidayuh proverbs, elements, inquisitive semantics, culture, philosophy |
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