Kinship is considered as on aspect of face systems. There are two aspects of kinship: hierarchy and collectivistic relationship. Kinship relationships emphasise that people are connected to each other by having descended from common ancestors. These could be both lateral (between siblings) and hierarchical (parents and children) (Scollon & Scollon, 2001).
In the Bidayuh community both lateral and hierarchical relationship exist with heavy emphasis on the latter. Titles use to address family members based on hierarchical relationship differ among the Bidayuh community. Basically, sequence (age) and gender are considered in determining the appropriate titles going to be used.
Titles for grandparents are purely based on gender. It does not matter whether they are older or younger than our immediate grandparents. Grandfather will be called "babuk", "babeh" (Serian), "babai" (Bau, Lundu, Padawan, Penrissen). Grandmother is "tayung", "teyang" (Serian), "sumuk" (Bau, Lundu, Padawan, Penrissen). In the Western community, gender is the only aspect considered; "uncle" and "aunty". In the Bidayuh community these two titles are complicated.They differ among the Bidayuh.
In the Bukar-Sadung (Serian ) community, sequence is considered first than gender is added to differentiate between an uncle or aunty who is older or younger than our parents. The one who is older would be addressed as "emba" and the one younger is "beje"
[bŭdʒŭʔ]. The two terms only show sequence (older or younger than our parents), so we have to include gender to differentiate an uncle or aunty who is older and younger than our parents. "emba dari" (older + male) means an uncle is older than our parents and "emba dayung" (older + female) means an aunty is older than our parents. There are variations in addressing the "younger uncle" and "younger aunty". In the Sadung community an uncle who is younger than our parents is addressed as "beje' dari" whereas in Bukar it is "amang beje". An aunty who is younger would be called "beje' dayung" (Sadung) and "ande beje" [andŭ bŭdʒŭʔ] (Bukar). "uncle" could be "emba dari" or "beje' dari" and "aunty" could be "emba dayung" or "beje' dayung". So, to translate "My uncle", we have to know whether the man is older (emba dari) or younger (beje' dari) than our parents to get the right context. Similarly"My aunty" (emba dayung/beje' dayung).
Bidayuh in other districts considers both sequence and gender to determine uncles and aunties who are older or younger than our parents. "somba" (or "semba") is used for older uncle and "noyung" for older aunty. These terms automatically show both sequence (older than our parents) and gender. We do not have to attach gender to them. Unlike the Bukar-Sadung community, gender has to be specifically mentioned to differentiate between them. Similar to the Bukar-Sadung community, only one word is used to address younger uncle or aunty: "tua'" [tuaʔ]. Therefore, we have to include gender to differentiate between the two. "tua' dari" (younger uncle) and "tua' dayung" (younger aunty). To translate "My uncle" we have to consider whether the man is older (somba) or younger (tua' dari) than our partents and "My aunty" (noyung/tua' dayung).
So, Bidayuh in Bau, Lundu, Padawan and Penrissen use three terms; "somba", "noyung" and "tua'" (dari/dayung) whereas those in Serian use two; "emba" (dari/dayung) and "beje'" (dari/dayung). The Bukar-Sadung community emphasises sequence ("emba" and "beje'") and gender needs to be attached to the terms whereas other Bidayuh communities emphasise on both sequence and gender, especially the uncles and aunties who are older than our parents. They clearly specify gender for uncles and aunties who are older than our parents but simply one word for the younger ones, gender needs to be attached to it.
Besides being used to show respect to our immediate family members, these forms of address are also being used to show respect for others. The forms depend on the relationship of the person with our parents or grandparents.
Today, "somba", "semba", "babai", "babuk" and "babeh" are commonly used as a sign of friendship or in informal situation especially among men.
"Anih agah babeh?" is used simply to greet. In English it simply means "How are you/How do you do?". The word "babeh" has nothing to do with "grandfather". But...this is only suitable if they are more or less of the same age group. It is inappropriate if a much younger man greets an older man in such a manner. Women don't use those words as frequent or rampant as men.
I wonder why "tua'" is never being made fun of, Why? Is it because it refers to the younger ones and sounds very junior?
Bidapud lagi...
