LANGUAGE AND GOVERNANCE IN PRE-COLONIAL EPOCH TRADING: A STUDY ON MALAY CLASSICAL TEXTS

Abstract

Studies on Malay classical texts always draw the attention of both international and local scholars. Several aspects of studies have been explored from different perspectives and disciplines such as literature, culture, politics, and sociology. Linguistic studies on the language used in the texts are also being investigated. Asmah (1991) describes the evolution of Malay language which can be observed from the Jawi spelling, morphophonemic system, morphology, syntax and the vocabularies used in the traditional text called Aqa'id Al-Nasafi. Secondly, Syed Muhammad Naquib (1988) who offers an explanation to the interpretation of implicit meaning behind the Jawi letters which refers to the eightyear cycle adhered by the Malay Muslims. In complementing the studies of previous scholars, this paper attempts to examine the language patterns of Malay used in trade and governance as manifested in the traditional texts. Nor Hashimah (2007) has accomplished a study on the language pattern used in trade in Kelantan Malay. Subsequently, this paper also aims to observe whether or not there are parallel patterns of language used in that domain in the time frame of two different epochs. Three renowned Malay traditional texts, namely Hikayat Hang Tuah (1997), Undang-Undang Melaka (2003) and Misa Melayu (1992) are used as corpus of study. The analysis is couched in the theory of semantic and pragmatic.