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Ma i gah! Muh en Andy.
Hello! My name is Andy. How are you?
Let's talk about the Semai language.

Semai is an Austroasiatic language of western Malaysia spoken by about 60,000 people. It is one of the few Aslian languages which are not endangered. Due to significant Malay influence, West and East Semai languages have numerous Malay loanwords. Despite being dialects of the same language, West and East Semai have distinct accents and terminology, often leading to mutual unintelligibility. To overcome this communication barrier, Semai speakers frequently use Malay terms, increasing the number of Malay loanwords in their language. Notably, Semai is the only indigenous language of Peninsular Malaysia available as an elective in the national examination.

The Semai people traditionally lead a semi-nomadic lifestyle, moving after the harvest season or when a community member dies. They practice slash-and-burn agriculture, growing mainly rice and tapioca. Semai men hunt with blowpipes and fish using bamboo traps and set various other traps. Food is commonly shared within the community. Semai women manage the household and children, gather vegetables and fruits, and are skilled weavers. They weave baskets, floor mats, and other household items using materials like bamboo, bertam tree, mengkuang leaves, and rattan.

Semai men and women jointly care for crops and plantations, living in large communal villages (kampug’). Newlywed couples build separate houses within the community, using traditional materials like bamboo and leaves called bertam. Traditionally animistic, the Semai hold many environmental taboos and practice shamanism for health and land cultivation. They celebrate the Genulang (Harvest) or Fruit festival annually, akin to a New Year celebration. As the largest indigenous group in Peninsular Malaysia, the Semai have largely converted to Christianity or Islam, with a few remaining animist. Modernization has led many to move to cities, reducing the number who practice traditional lifestyles.

This video is created for educational, language awareness, and language preservation purposes. It aims to provide valuable insights and knowledge to viewers, enhancing their understanding and appreciation of different languages and their unique characteristics. By raising awareness about linguistic diversity, the video seeks to foster a greater respect and recognition for various languages, particularly those that are endangered or underrepresented. Additionally, it contributes to the preservation of languages by documenting and sharing linguistic knowledge, thus ensuring that these languages and their cultural heritage are not lost to future generations.

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