Welcome to My Asli

MyAli is a digital repository for preserving multimedia collections of endangered languages in Malaysia, making them available for future generations.

OUR JOURNEY

myasli

5 Videos

MyAsli Fieldwork 3: Jahai (Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Raba, RPS Air Banun, Perak)

1:12

MyAsli Fieldwork 2: Temiar (Kampung Orang Asli Jenut, Gua Musang, Kelantan)

1:31

MyAsli Fieldwork 2: Temiar (Kampung Orang Asli Jenut, Gua Musang, Kelantan)

1:19

MyAsli Fieldwork 1: Kensiu (Kampung Orang Asli Lubuk Legong, Baling, Kedah)

1:31

MyAsli Fieldwork 1: Kensiu (Kampung Orang Asli Lubuk Legong, Baling, Kedah)

1:01

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

Protecting the rights of indigenous people is part of a foundation in ensuring societal harmony and happiness. Yet, as is the case for many indigenous communities around the globe, the indigenous population in Malaysia has yet to fully enjoy their rights, particularly with regard to their languages that are mostly in danger. This has prompted a need for the revival of language rights for indigenous communities and for the integration and preservation of their languages in Malaysia. The current project aims at integrating and preserving the indigenous languages in Malaysia by developing a phonological model which will be coined as MyAsli. Speech data from 216 speakers will be collected representatively from 18 indigenous languages in Peninsular Malaysia, which will reflect indigenous variation in the country. In all recording sessions, Standard Speech Collection Protocol (SSCP) will be employed, in which speech is recorded via various tasks such as Digits, Isolated Words, Read Sentences, Interview, Spontaneous Narrative, Map Task Activities and Speech-in-Noise. A centralised language data storage system will be developed in order to provide shared access to the speech database and the collective annotation associated with every recording. A comprehensive phonological model, called MyAsli, will be developed. MyAsli is essential to describe the linguistic variation of indigenous languages in Malaysia over geographical areas, social background and speech style. Once established, MyAsli will be the first indigenous phonological model in the country that can meet the demands of modern speech science. It will provide a significant boost to speech research in Malaysia now and well into the future. More importantly, MyAsli will integrate the indigenous languages into the mainstream linguistic landscape in Malaysia. As there is a close link between national self-perception and how speakers use language, MyAsli will be a profound cultural resource for all Malaysians.

Exploring Malaysia's Indigenous Peoples

NEGRITO

The Negrito Orang Asli ethnic group consists of the Kensiu, Kintak, Lanoh, Jahai, Mendriq, and Bateq ethnic groups. They inhabit the areas around the Titiwangsa range which is centered mostly in the northern part of the Peninsula.

SENOI

The Senoi people inhabit the slopes of Titiwangsa in the interior of Perak, Kelantan, and Pahang. There are 6 tribes in the Senoi race, namely Che Wong, Mah Meri, Jahut, Semoq Beri, Semai and Temiar.

MELAYU - PROTO

Proto-Malays Orang Asli comprise of tribes such as Semelai, Jakun, Orang Kanaq, Orang Kuala and Orang Seletar. Initially, they lived in coastal areas, estuaries or valley areas. Now they have their own village areas.