THE KRISTANG LANGUAGE USAGE AS A COMMUNICATION MEANS AMONGST THE PORTUGUESE COMMUNITY IN MELAKA

The aim of this study is to study communication between generations among the Portuguesecommunity members in Malacca. The Kristang language is the mother tongue of thePortuguese community in Melaka and is the focus of this study. The sample of this study is the Portuguese community that lives in a village at Ujong Pasir, Melaka. The research instrument employed to gather data in this study were questionnaire, interviews and observation. The findings of this study show that the older generation still use the Kristang language. Meanwhile the younger generation seems less active in the usage of this language although in the domain of their home or family. The younger generation has begun to use other language that is more dominant and has high economic value. This is amongst the reason for the collapse of the Kristang language as a communication means among the younger generation. This phenomenon is a common occurrence in minority society. This situation will lead to the weakening of the language and later affect the sustainability of the language. The Melaka Portuguese community is aware of the phenomenon faced by their Kristang language and the need to safeguard their inherited mother tongue. Thus, they thrive to speak Kristang daily with the hope to maintain and preserve this language. With the sense of responsibility to maintain the Kristang language among the Portuguese community members, the phenomenon of language extinction that often occurs in minority communities can be avoided.