The role of language and literature in the development of a nation state: perceptions of future stakeholders

Abstract

The papers discussed in this presentation are based on an IRPA Project carried out under the auspices of the former Faculty of Language Studies. The study looks at the role of language, the national and other languages used in Malaysia, and its literatures in the development of a Malaysian nation state an entity defined in this study along the challenges of Vision 2020 (Mahathir Mohamed, 1991). Specifically, the study aims to identify via a questionnaire and school observations and interviews perception of respondents on the state/role of language and literature vis-a-vis the challenges of Vision 2020. The papers presented in this session will discuss findings of the study with respect to the perception of the leaders of tomorrow specifically the 16-25 age group. The first paper Language and Nation State: Meeting the Challenges of Competing Ideologies by Abd. Aziz Idris and Marlyna Maros will discuss respondents' perception on the role of language in the context of nationalism and globalism. The second Medium or Message?: Implications of the Use of Literature to Promulgate National Integration by Noraini Md. Yusof and Zalina Mohd. Lazim will discuss the role of literature in national integration with respect to the medium and message.