Birth-Order-Based Terms of Address in the Sambas Malay Community

Abstract

Globalization and rapid technological development have influenced people’s lifestyles and communication practices. These changes also affect family structures and decisions regarding the number of children, which in turn influence the use of traditional address forms within the Sambas Malay community. This study aims to identify Sambas Malay terms of address based on birth order in order to examine the structure. This research employs a qualitative approach to examine the communication culture of the Sambas Malay community in social interactions. Data were collected through field observations, interviews with Sambas Malay cultural figures, and documentation of communication practices within the community. The findings reveal that the birth-order-based terms of address used in Sambas Malay culture include along, angah, ude, unning, acik, uteh, itam, anjang, andah, amok, alang, and ussu. If a person is an only child, they are referred to as unggal. The terms of address are generally fixed for the first three children, while those used for subsequent children tend to be more flexible or optional. Greeting terms in Sambas Malay are not merely labels, but a reflection of social structure, values ​​of respect, seniority, and family roles in Sambas Malay culture.