Penggunaan Manga dan Anime sebagai Media Pembelajaran dalam Kalangan Pelajar Bahasa Jepun di Universiti Awam Malaysia

Kajian ini meneliti sejauh manakah penggunaan dan corak kesantunan bahasa Jepun yang digunakan oleh pemandu pelancong berbahasa Jepun semasa sesi lawatan pemanduan pelancongan di sekitar destinasi pelancongan di Malaysia. Pertembungan budaya dalam sesi lawatan pemanduan ini mempengaruhi cara berkomunikasi kedua belah pihak dalam usaha mewujudkan komunikasi yang berkesan dan bersesuaian. Persoalannya adakah pemandu pelancong Malaysia berbahasa Jepun yang merupakan penutur bukan natif bahasa Jepun berjaya menjalankan peranannya menggunakan bahasa Jepun sebagai medium komunikasi dan menepati piawaian penggunaan bahasa tersebut berdasarkan budaya Jepun? Data diperoleh melalui kaedah pemerhatian sistematik rakaman audio visual dan pemerhatian semasa interaksi pemandu pelancong dengan pelancong Jepun dalam lima set sesi lawatan di sekitar destinasi pelancongan Bandar Melaka. Rakaman audio sesi lawatan pemandu pelancong ditranskripsikan secara verbatim, manakala rakaman visual dan pemerhatian digunakan sebagai refleksi terhadap konteks interaksi yang tidak dapat dirakam melalui rakaman audio dan visual. Dapatan kajian mendapati kebanyakan bentuk kesantunan bahasa Jepun yang digunakan hanyalah pada tahap Teeneego (bentuk sopan). Malah ada sesetengah pemandu pelancong menggunakan bentuk biasa (Plain Form) pada perkataan kata kerja dan pemilihan kosa kata dari kumpulan kata yang tidak selari dengan aspek kesantunan semasa bertutur dengan para pelancong Jepun. Hal ini adalah bercanggahan dengan konsep yang sepatutnya diamalkan dalam perkhidmatan masyarakat Jepun, iaitu penggunaan kesantunan dalam konteks perhubungan profesional. Namun data analisis menunjukkan ketidaksantunan ini tidak menjejaskan kelancaran komunikasi dan mesej yang ingin disampaikan mencapai sasaran di sepanjang sesi lawatan pelancongan. Penyelidikan ini diharapkan akan menjadi rujukan kepada tenaga pengajar bahasa Jepun dalam mencari teknik yang bertepatan untuk merencanakan rancangan pembelajaran, khususnya pembelajaran bahasa Jepun untuk pelancongan. Kata Kunci: Pelancongan Malaysia; komunikasi silang budaya; kesantunan bahasa Jepun; pemandu pelancong; pelancong Jepun ABSTRACT This study observes the application and patterns of Japanese linguistic politeness used by Malaysian tour guides during their guided tour sessions with the Japanese tourists. The interactions with the toruists were conducted in the Japanese language. During the guided tour sessions, the cultural encounters between the Malaysian tour guides and Japanese tourists influence the manner of communication for both parties to achieve and maintain effective and appropriate communication. The issue is whether the Japanese-speaking Malaysian tour guides, who are not native Japanese speakers, were able to perform their role using Japanese as the medium of communication and fulfil the standards of Japanese language according to the Japanese culture. Data were collected from audio-visual recordings of all interactions during the five tour sessions around Malacca City Centre and field notes. The audio recordings were transcribed verbatim, while visual recordings and field notes were used as references for details of certain interaction aspects that were not apparent in the audio recordings. The study found that most of the Japanese polite forms used were only at the teeneego (politeness form) level. Besides that, the data also revealed that several Malaysian tour guides were using the plain form for verbs and choosing vocabularies from vocabulary groups that were inappropriate based on the politeness aspect when speaking to the Japanese tourists. These practices were contradictory with the concept that ought to be practiced in the Japanese service culture. This means that politeness in the context of Japanese professional communication was not applied. However, the data analysis showed that these impoliteness manner did not affect the flow of the communication process and the intended messages were delivered during the tour. The findings can be used as a reference point for Japanese language instructors to design appropriate techniques, particularly for Japanese language lessons in tourism. Keywords: Malaysian tourism; intercultural communication; Japanese politeness; tour guide; Japanese tourists

Cartoons have been a favorite among children, teenagers and adults. Cartoons began with paper drawing and have evolved to the highest technology of dissemination in the form of movies; apart from that, cartoons have become a teaching tool for second language learners. The objectives of the study were to identify and discuss the characters, storyline and moral values in a Malay cartoon. The cartoon used in this study was Upin and Ipin. The samples consist of ten subjects from a Malay language proficiency class at one of the universities in Korea. The subjects viewed 8 episodes of Upin and Ipin for 1 hour a week for a total of 8 weeks. The subjects were interviewed based on their views about the cartoon. The results of the study revealed that the subjects managed to identify all of the characters in the cartoon. The subjects also understood the storylines in six episodes of the cartoon. Moreover, the results revealed that the moral values for each episode involved respect, hardworking, caring, loving and others. This study implicates educators to consider cartoons as a teaching tool in foreign language learning. It is hoped that a future study will focus on cartoons when learning to write short stories among Malay language learners.

This study aims to address the phenomenon of language maintenance and shift in multilingual ecologies, specifically the ethnic minority communities of Yunnan province in China. The case study focuses on language ecological issues, i.e., language use, language shift, and language preservation, which resulted from language contact and cultural contact between the dominant Chinese communities and the inferior minorities across the region of Yunnan. The smaller language groups have been overlooked in favour of the larger competing languages in previous research concerning linguistic dynamics in Yunnan. By analyzing and evaluating at language competency levels, usage patterns, and skill sets among speakers from the Chinese communities, this paper seeks to restate this omission. Through the integration of language ecology approaches, the survey on everyday use of language, attitudes and transition from questionnaires were analyzed quantitatively pertaining to the impact of evolving sociodemographic factors on language retention and change in the context of Chinese communities. In this study, data regarding linguistic habits were gathered by a questionnaire survey, skill levels, and repertoires within these communities. As part of the research approach, sociolinguistic background data, language repertoires, language usage patterns, and attitudes toward various languages were all examined. The study utilized qualitative data that was collected through semi-structured interviews through the Zoom online platform and direct observations. The research illustrated the dynamic relationship between individual agency and social cause that shapes language attitudes and behaviors of different actors. It is hoped that the research findings contribute to the understanding of linguistic diversity in China, particularly in contemporary multilingual settings which may serve as concrete evidence for policymakers to revitalize ehnic minority languages. The research implies that language change on the formation of individual, group and collective identity, social cohesion within a community, and cultural heritage preservation.

Japanese animation or anime started to gain interest among teenagers and adults since 1990s. Now the popularity increases parallel with the new technologies. This paper looks into the outcome of conversatsion among the students at two secondary schools in Selangor, Malaysia. The students were chosen based on the questionnaire. 34 students were selected based on their answers from the questionaire. Based on the interview session, they were fanatic fans of animation and manga. The results of the study revealed that they were five main characteristics in anime characters that the liked; bravery, hardworking, sense of humour, appreciative in relationship as well as individual speciality.

As higher education becomes more digitally mediated and internationally oriented, social media interaction has increasingly become a crucial way across linguistic and cultural boundaries. It functions as a space where interaction unfolds, and meanings are negotiated. To explore how it contributes to the development of intercultural digital communication competence, this study conducted a systematic literature review. Following a PRISMA-guided process, we identified 19 empirical studies published between 2015 and 2025 and evaluated them using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). The findings suggested that this competence develops through the combined influence of pragmatic resources, ongoing behavioral adjustment, and affective factors. Features of politeness strategies, stance-taking, and multimodal cues play a noticeable role in shaping interaction. The result showed that participation alone does not automatically lead to improvement, and structured support and opportunities for reflection also make a difference. These findings offered implications for communication training and digitally mediated learning in higher education.