The making of Malaysian solidarity: Unifying elements behind ancient Iban language affixes

An affix system study of three Sarawak Iban variants , namely Sri Aman, Betong, and Sarikei, clearly shows that the prefix verb {N}, {di-}, {b partial (R)-}, {t partial (R)-} and {partial N-}; prefix noun {p partial N-}; prefix adjective {p partial N-}; suffix {-ka} and confic verb {N-ka} and {t partial-ka} have a high level of compatibility between variants. By contrast, the prefix noun {s partial-}; prefix adjective {eta partial N-}; and confix verb {di-ka}, {b partial-ka} exhibit mismatch between the Sarawak Iban variants. These apparent differences could be due to the fact that the findings utilised by the researchers were sourced from only one or two folklores. It is the authors‟ belief that some forms of conjunction adjustments should exist in variants but because recorded stories were the main source of the study some vital affixation adjustments were omitted. In any case, the existence of minimum levels of differences clearly illustrates that the bond between the three variants is indisputable. The analysis proved that the Sarawak Iban affixation system rendered much help in explaining the close relationship between the different Ibanik variants and in demonstrating the coherence of the Sarawak Iban language with Malay