New Publication: UKM Ethnic Studies Paper Series No. 20

Pue Giok Hun & Shamsul A.B. 2012. Peranakan as a Social Concept. UKM Ethnic Studies Paper Series No. 20, April. Bangi: Institute of Ethnic Studies. ISSN 2180-1193

Abstract:This article discusses the significance of etymology and its role in the construction of social concepts pertaining to amalgam, namely an ethnic group whose formation stemmed from amalgamation as part of assimilation process which occurs continuously in interethnic relations between the majority ethnic group and the minority. It is an ethnic group that is often overlooked in the discourse of ethnicity as a way to organise social difference in a society into different ethnic categories. The perception that such a group has no place in mainstream society is reflected by the way labels that are created and used on the group tend to be negative and pejorative. As a result, this contributes to ethnic contestation in the society. However, this is not the case in the Malay Archipelago where culturally localised, local-born of non-indigenous descent, particularly offspring from mix-marriage with native women, are referred to as ‘Peranakan’. Derived from the root word ‘anak’ (meaning child), Peranakan may be seen as one of rare social concepts that refers to amalgam in a neutral, if not positive way where the majority accepts the minority as one of their own while simultaneously acknowledging the latter’s ethnic differences. As such, Peranakan may be adopted into societies from non-Malay world as a more suitable social concept to explain amalgamation harmoniously as a way to promote social cohesion in a society.

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