METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY

This study uses content analysis to reveal the extent of cultural values embedded in reading passages of the Bahasa Melayu paper for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM). It is mainly qualitatively in its approach nature in terms of searching and identifying themes that form patterns in language expressions that convey cultural values. The source of the data for this study is a collection of Bahasa Melayu SPM papers over five years, 2006-2010. The data for the study are in the form of written texts and comprehension questions that accompany the reading text.

Data analysis consists of two main stages. First, to see the presence of cultural values, the texts and questions are investigated by identifying the themes and patterning them according to Adaskou, Britten and Fahsi’s (1990) framework of Culture in Four Dimensions. Reading passages were analyzed in terms of content, which provides the context of cultural values that are present in the reading passages. Culture in this context is perceived in terms of aesthetic sense, sociological sense, semantic sense, and pragmatic sense (Adaskou, Britten, and Fahsi, 1990). Second, after classifying and notating the cultural values found in

the texts, the frequency of each dimension of cultural occurrence is then

tabulated. The findings are then discussed qualitatively to answer the research

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

9 N SB I

Table 1: The Number of Occurrence of Cultural Values in Reading Texts

According to Year (2006 – 2010) and Cultural Sense/Dimension

D IN E

CE The Aesthetic O The Semantic R

Pragmatic Sense P Sense E

Table 1 shows the number of occurrence of cultural values in reading texts of the

Bahasa Melayu SPM (Paper 2) from the year of 2006 to 2010. There were four reading comprehension texts for each exam year. For the year of 2006, two of Bahasa Melayu SPM (Paper 2) from the year of 2006 to 2010. There were four reading comprehension texts for each exam year. For the year of 2006, two of

The traditional format for the four reading comprehension texts and its questions for the papers are one general reading text for comprehension and summary, followed by a short story, a classical prose, and a poem. The topics for the general reading texts varies from topics on arts and humanity such as efforts to encourage good behaviour amongst citizens, topics on health such as the effects of consuming chocolates, to topics on science and technology such as the advantages of aerospace exploration. As most of these topics of reading texts involve humanity, arts, music, literature, and culture, they are categorised into the aesthetic and sociological sense of culture.

Table 2: The Frequency and Percentage of Cultural Distinctive Occurrences in Reading Comprehension Texts of Bahasa Melayu SPM Paper 2 (Year 2006 – 2010)

Cultural Sense

Frequency

Percentage (%)

The Aesthetic Sense

8 40 -6

The Sociological Sense

6 30 -25

The Semantic Sense 85 3 15

The Pragmatic Sense

3 15 67 Total -9 20 100 8

Table 2 further shows the frequency of cultural distinctive occurrences in the SB

reading texts. It is apparent that the aesthetic sense topped the ranking with 8

occurrences or 40% of the total frequency of cultural distinctive occurrences. IN

This is followed closely by the sociological sense with 6 occurrences or 30% of

CE O R

the total occurrences.

From the two tables, it could be inferred that most of the reading comprehension R E

texts inculcates and emphasises culture in the aesthetic and the sociological

2 CO

sense. This weighting is due to the fact that texts from the Bahasa Melayu

literature component – which mostly has cultural values categorised in the I2 N

E CC

aesthetic sense – are incorporated as reading comprehension texts in the Paper

2 of the Bahasa Melayu SPM paper. For example, the following is an excerpt of

one of the reading comprehension texts found in the Paper 2 of the Bahasa 61 4

Melayu SPM paper of the year 2009.

ANAK LAUT

Segar angin laut mengembalikan rindunya pada kolek bagai buih kecil terapung di air menjaring sedikit rezeki dan sisik ikan

kulit ketam kepala sotong dan kaki udang yang bersimpati.

Seperti kolek terdampar di pasir menampakkan urat jalur-jalur tua anak laut itu sudah dapat menerka langkahnya hampir tiba pada muara Pencipta.

Rahimidin Zahari

Antologi Anak Laut Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka

(Reading Text for Question 2(d) of Bahasa Melayu SPM Paper 2 (Year 2009))

The excerpt known as a Sajak, is a type of Bahasa Melayu poetry. The poem is about a man who is reflecting on his life as a fisherman as he reaches his old age and is about to leave this world and returning to the Creator. The incorporation of poems, short stories, and classical literary texts as reading comprehension

texts in the Bahasa Melayu SPM paper shows that the aesthetic dimension of

culture is deemed significant and conveyed through these types of reading -25

comprehension texts. Cultural values such as being hardworking and being

thankful can also be derived from such literary texts. Central to the issue is also

8 -9 7

the presence of the omnipotent Creator who conveys religiosity as a deep seated

cultural value.

SB I

Other reading comprehension texts in the Bahasa Melayu SPM paper include

IN D

topics ranging from family and interpersonal relations, cultural aspects such as E

appreciating work and leisure, customs and institutions; whereby these topics O R

form the main components of the sociological sense of culture. For example, the

following is an excerpt of one of the reading comprehension texts found in the

Paper 2 of the Bahasa Melayu SPM paper of the year 2006.

Sejak zaman-berzaman, generasi tua terasuh dengan budaya dan adat sopan yang

I2 N

menitikberatkan nilai-nilai budi dalam setiap perbuatan dan perbualan. Mereka

E CC

sentiasa meletakkan budi bahasa sebagai pelengkap kehidupan berhemah. Budi bahasa

lazimnya merujuk kepada tutur kata, kelakuan dan sopan santun yang meliputi akhlak

mulia. Untuk menyuburkan amalan yang mulia ini, kerajaan melancarkan Kempen Budi 62 4

Bahasa dan Nilai Murni. Justeru, kesedaran sivik masyarakat umum mestilah ditingkatkan oleh semua pihak untuk melahirkan warganegara yang berhemah tinggi.

[Line 1 – 6, Reading Text for Question 1 of Bahasa Melayu SPM Paper 2 (Year 2006)]

This excerpt paragraph of the reading comprehension text discusses ways to inculcate interpersonal good behaviour and noble values amongst Malaysian citizens. The inclusion of reading comprehension texts such as the one mentioned relates to the existence of the sociological sense of culture in society and is selected to form reading comprehension for the Bahasa Melayu SPM paper. Such texts also emphasise cultural and moral values beholden to aspirations of the nation such as good behaviour, mutual respect, and tolerance amongst different people and ethnicity.

However while there is an emphasis of a varying degree of cultural perspectives, most of the reading comprehension test questions that follow the reading texts seldom focuses covertly on the inculcation of the cultural or noble values. Using the two mentioned reading comprehension texts as an example, it could be noted that the questions that accompany the reading comprehension text focuses solely on the skill of literal comprehension of students, resulting in a lack of emphasis on higher levels of cognitive processes (according to Bloom’s Taxonomy of Learning Domains, 1956) such as synthesis and evaluation that will evidence a deeper processing of the message. Below is the example of questions of the first reading comprehension text mentioned above, with its translation in

the brackets.

(a) Berikan maksud rangkai kata ukuran kemajuan.

(State the meaning of the phrase ukuran kemajuan.)

(b) Mengapakah kerajaan melancarkan Kempen Budi Bahasa dan

Nilai Murni?

SB I

(Why is the Government introducing the ‘Campaign on Good

Behaviour and Noble Values’?)

IN E D

Give an example of how an individual can help in the campaign

to show his commitment towards the perpetuation of a value. O R

kejayaan kempen tersebut.

(In your opinion, discuss the factors that will decide the success

of the campaign.)

[Question 2(a) of Bahasa Melayu SPM Paper 2 (Year 2006)]

N I2 CC E

The following is the example of questions of the second reading comprehension R

text as mentioned.

(a) Nyatakan perkara-perkara yang dikenang oleh ‘anak laut’ dalam sajak di atas. (State the reflections that are being reflected by the ‘anak laut’ in the poem.)

(b) Bagaimanakah cara untuk meningkatkan taraf hidup nelayan? Berikan tiga cadangan anda.

(What are the ways to improve the life of the fishermen? State three ways.)

[Question 2(d) of Bahasa Melayu SPM Paper 2 (Year 2009)]

It is to be noted that the questions mentioned above focuses much on the skill of literal comprehension of students, as most of the purpose of the questions are to require the students to state and answer according to what is given in the reading texts. Only certain questions require the students to analyse situations and provide their own opinions, which are not specifically guided to tease out cultural values. For example, for the final questions in both of the given examples, the questions are very broad based, and similarly the expected answers would also be broad based. Most of the questions also do not directly encourage the inculcation of cultural values. The inculcation could only be seen in an indirect or subtle way, where students might not be able to fully grasp the

intention of instilling culturally laden values through such reading -6

comprehension questions.

The testing of cultural competence is in a way a fuzzy notion. However, to

7 8 -9

attempt at the internalisation of the values manifested through the use of 9

linguistic evidence, the test constructor could consciously incorporate test items SB

that could target the purpose, such as in the following recommended questions.

S G IN D

(a) Give an example of how an individual can help in the campaign.

CE O R

(Campaign on Good Behaviour and Noble Values) to show

his/her commitment towards the perpetuation of a value).

[In relation to Question 2(a) of Bahasa Melayu SPM Paper 2 R E

(Year 2006)]

(b) How can fisherman contribute to nation building?

[In relation to Question 2(d) of Bahasa Melayu SPM Paper 2

N I2 CC E

(Year 2009)]

fisherman. 64 4

[In relation to Question 2(d) of Bahasa Melayu SPM Paper 2 (Year 2009)]

METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY