The Portrayal of Kelantanese Identity in Che Husna Azhari’S Fiction

THE PORTRAYAL OF KELANTANESE IDENTITY IN CHE HUSNA AZHARI’S FICTION BY NUR IZZATI BT. MOHD. SAPPERI A dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Human Sciences in English Literary Studies Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences International Islamic University Malaysia DECEMBER 2014 ABSTRACT The Kelantanese are always admired and to some extent, envied by other Malays because of their strong sense of belonging. This sense of belonging is seldom portrayed in Malaysian English writing. However, Che Husna Azhari has taken the challenge to write on the uniqueness of regional Malay identity. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the portrayal of Kelantanese identity in Che Husna Azhari’s short story collections, The Rambutan Orchard (1993a) and Melor in Perspective (1993b). Nine short stories have been selected by the researcher from these two volumes. The short stories portray the expression and the retainment of Kelantanese identity within and outside their community, notwithstanding migration and modernisation. This study is also intended to see the way culture, religion and gender mould the Kelantanese identity. It has been concluded that the Kelantanese people have gradually changed their identity by adapting to other cultures as well as the result of migration and modernisation. However, they are capable of maintaining their Kelantanese identity by conversing in the dialect in their daily conversation. Islam is the strongest identity marker for the Kelantanese people as it is embedded in most of their affairs. Nevertheless, the identity of the Kelantanese women has asserted a strong influence on the family, maintaining a strong sense of femininity at the same time. The clash between the pre-Islamic elements and Islam which prevails within the Kelantanese culture, is also a part of the identity of its people. ii خﻻصة البحث ABSTRACT IN ARABIC الكلنتانيون دائًما ما حيظون باهتمام اﻵخرين إىل حد ما، واملﻻيويون اﻵخرون حيسدوهنم بسبب شعورهم القوي باﻻنتماء. ونادًرا ما يصور هذا الشعور اﻻنتمائي يف حبوث اللغة اﻹجنليزية يف ماليزيا. ومع ذلك، فقد قَبِلت هذا التحدي تشئ حسىن أزهري للكتابة عن هذا النوع الفريد من اهلوية املﻻيوية اﻹقليمية. واهلدف من هذا البحث هو دراسة لوصف اهلوية الكلنتانية لتشئ حسىن أزهري يف جمموعتني من القصص القصرية. وهي بستان رامبوتان ) Rambutan Orchard) )أ( )3991م( وميلور يف املنظور (Melor in Perspective( )ب( )3991م(. ومت اختيار تسع قصص قصرية من قبل الباحث يف هذين اجمللدين. والقصص القصرية تصور التعبري عن اهلوية الكلنتانية أو بقائها داخل وخارج اجملتمع الكلنتاين، على الرغم من اهلجرات والتطورات العصرية. والغرض من هذه الدراسة هو معرفة اﻻجتاه الثقايف والديين واجلنسي اليت تُ ّشكل اهلوية الكلنتانية، وتلخص هذا البحث يف أن الكلنتنيني يتغريون تدرجييًّا يف هويتهم بسبب التَكيّف مع الثقافات اﻷخرى، وكذلك اهلجرات والتطورات العصرية. ومع ذلك فإهنم قادرون على اﻻحتفاظ هبويتهم الكلنتانية عن طريق التحدث باللهجة الكلنتانية يف احملادثات اليومية. واﻹسﻻم هو أقوى عﻻمة يف اهلوية الكلنتانية كما هو متضمن يف معظم شؤوهنم، ومع ذلك أن هوية املرأة الكلنتانية تتميز بتأثري قوي يف اﻷسرة، ويف الوقت نفسه تتميز باﻻستمرار الوعي القوي عند اﻹناث، وتداخل العناصر ما بني قبل اﻹسﻻم و بعد اﻹسﻻم اليت يسود داخل الثقافة الكلنتانية، وذلك أي ًضا هو جزء من هذه اهلوية عند الكلنتانيني. iii APPROVAL PAGE I certify that I have supervised and read this study and that in my opinion; it conforms to acceptable standards of scholarly presentation and is fully adequate, in scope and quality, as a thesis for the degree of Master of Human Sciences (English Literary Studies). ……….….………………………… Mohammad A. Quayum Abdus Salam Supervisor I certify that I have read this study and that in my opinion; it conforms to acceptable standards of scholarly presentation and is fully adequate, in scope and quality, as a thesis for the degree of Master of Human Sciences (English Literary Studies). ……….….………………………… Aimillia Mohd. Ramli Examiner This dissertation was submitted to the Department of English Language and Literature and is accepted as fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Human Sciences (English Literary Studies). ……….….………………………… Zahariah Pilus Head, Department of English Language and Literature This dissertation was submitted to the Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences and is accepted as fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Human Sciences (English Literary Studies). ……….….………………………… Ibrahim Mohamed Zein Dean, Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences iv DECLARATION I hereby declare that this dissertation is the result of my own investigations, except where otherwise stated. I also declare that it has not been previously or concurrently submitted as a whole for any other degrees at IIUM or other institutions. Nur Izzati bt. Mohd. Sapperi Signature……………………………. Date……………………………. v INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA DECLARATION OF COPYRIGHT AND AFFIRMATION OF FAIR USE OF UNPUBLISHED RESEARCH Copyright © 2014 by International Islamic University Malaysia. All rights reserved THE PORTRAYAL OF KELANTANESE IDENTITY IN CHE HUSNA AZHARI’S FICTION I hereby affirm that the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) holds the rights in the copyright of this work. Henceforth no part of this research reproduced in whole or in part of any form or by any means electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system without written permission from the publisher. Affirmed by Nur Izzati bt. Mohd. Sapperi ……………………………. ……………………………. Signature Date vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Alhamdulillah, I have completed the thesis. Thank you Allah for your mercy and blessings. Ameen. Ya Rabb. The rest of my gratitude goes for: My supervisor, Prof. Mohammad A. Quayum, for your guidance, patience and faith, Prof. Ghulam Sarwar Yousof, for your books, time and support, Prof. Che Husna Azhari, for your stories and inspiration, Dr. Rozina Abdul Ghani, for your motherly love and wonderful Tazkirah. My beloved parents, Hj. Mohd. Sapperi and Hjh. Marhana and wonderful brothers, Ahmad Syahmi and Ahmad Faisal, for your endless love, understanding and never-ending encouragement, And lecturers from DELL, friends and fiancé for your knowledge, ideas, encouragement and companionship. You are awesome! Jazakumullah khairan katheera. May Allah bless you. Ameen. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract .................................................................................................................... ii Abstract in Arabic .................................................................................................... iii Approval Page .......................................................................................................... iv Declaration ............................................................................................................... v Copyright Page ......................................................................................................... vi Acknowledgements .................................................................................................. vii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ................................................................. 1 1.1 Background of Study .............................................................................. 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem........................................................................ 5 1.3 Objectives of the Study ........................................................................... 7 1.4 Research Questions ................................................................................. 8 1.5 Significance of the Study ........................................................................ 8 1.6 Literature Review ................................................................................... 9 1.7 Theoretical Framework ........................................................................... 9 1.8 Methodology ........................................................................................... 9 1.9 Limitations of the Study ......................................................................... 10 1.10 Organisation of Chapters ...................................................................... 11 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................... 13 2.0 Introduction............................................................................................. 13 2.1 Literature Review ................................................................................... 13 2.2 Theoretical Framework ........................................................................... 20 2.2.1 Identity Theory .............................................................................. 20 2.2.2 The Self ......................................................................................... 31 2.2.3 Ethnicity ........................................................................................ 34 2.2.4 Ethnic Identity ............................................................................... 35 2.2.5 Malays by Definition .................................................................... 37 CHAPTER THREE: PORTRAYAL OF THE KELANTANESE IDENTITY: THE RAMBUTAN ORCHARD AND MELOR IN PERSPECTIVE ...................................................................................................... 40 3.0 Introduction............................................................................................. 40 3.1 Culture: The Insertion of Kelantanese Dialect ......................................

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