DIALEK MELAYU TERENGGANU: PENDOKUMENTASIAN DAN PENGEKALAN WARISAN VARIASI BAHASA TEMPATAN

It analyses the Terengganu Malay dialect in particular its linguistic features and strategies to preserve the usage of the dialect. It is undertaken with the aim of documenting and preserving the dialect to avoid the depreciating of the local dialect. It employs the descriptive qualitative approach involving questionnaires and interviews administred to 120 respondents from the coastal areas who are native speakers of the dialect. They constitue representatives from the government sector, members of the community and patrons of local coffee shops. From the government sector, community of the village and community of the coffee shops in the coastal areas. The article highlights the uniqueness of the coastal Terengganu Malay dialect at its phonological and lexicological levels. They revolve round the different pronunciation of vocals, consonants, dipthongs, syllables, as well as such features as lengthening shortening, replacing and compressing of syllables and words. Clearly the uniqueness of the local dialect call for it to be documented to preserve it for future generations by way of enhancing the Malay/Malaysian language and culture.