Multilingualism is the use of two or more languages, either by an individual speaker or by a community of speakers. The diversity of languages and cultures is regarded as a good thing that ought to be embraced at all time. Every language preserves its distinctive uniqueness and value. All languages are equally adequate as means of manifestation for their users. However, language and culture diversity often lead to language barriers and miscommunications which eventually has become challenges encountered by tourists in tourism sector. The act of mastering several languages might be a help to reduce the chances of having a miscommunication. Nevertheless, multilingualism seems to be inactively put into practice by the shopkeepers in the East Coast of Malaysia, specifically in Kuala Terengganu – a district located in the state of Terengganu, Malaysia. This study is carried out to ascertain whether or not multilingualism is practiced in Kuala Terengganu as well as to analyse the role of multilingualism in facilitating the tourist. A set of questionnaire has been designed and distributed to the shopkeepers at identified venues in Kuala Terengganu. Some tourists were also interviewed to shed light on the real challenges faced by the tourists and the local in tourism sector when they deal in business or shopping. This study reveals the significant role played by multilingualism in having a successful business, especially in tourism sector. Some recommendations are also forwarded to improve the quality of business in general and to improve the competence in multilingualism in particular.
Aseanweb. (2010). Tourist arrivals in ASEAN, (January), 2015. Retrieved from http://www.aseansec.org/stat/Table28.pdf
Aslam, M. S. ., Awang, K. W., & Othman, N. (2014). Issues and Challenges in Nurturing Sustainable Rural Tourism Development.
Biddix, J. P. (2012). Mixed Methods Research Designs | Research Rundowns on WordPress.com. Retrieved May 2, 2016, from https://researchrundowns.com/mixed/mixed-methods-research-designs/
British Council, Extra, G., & Ya?mur, K. (2012). Language Rich Europe: Trends in policies and practices for multilingualism in Europe, 247–253. Retrieved from http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/books-resource-packs/trends-policies-and-practices-multilingualism-europe
Caroline, B., Brightwater Group Research Centre, & Senior Lecturer of Notre Dame University. (2009). Using a mixed methods approach to enhance and validate your research.
Clark, J., & Yallop, C. (2006). An Introduction to Sociolinguistics Blackwell Textbooks in Linguistics. Religion. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Sociolinguistics-Blackwell-Textbooks-Linguistics/dp/140513559X
Creswell, J. W. (2003). Research design. Retrieved from http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/docs/icb.topic1334586.files/2003_Creswell_A Framework for Design.pdf
Duchêne, A. (2009). Marketing, management and performance: Multilingualism as commodity in a tourism call centre. Language Policy, 8(1), 27–50. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10993-008-9115-6
Euridyce, 2005. Key Data on Teaching Languages at School in Europe.
http://www.eurydice.org/ressources/Eurydice/pdf/0_integral/049EN.pdf
Essay UK. (2015). Communication In The Hospitality And Tourism Industry Communications Essay. Retrieved May 2, 2016, from https://www.ukessays.com/essays/communications/communication-in-the-hospitality-and-tourism-industry-communications-essay.php
Facts, E. K. E. Y. (n.d.). EAST COAST ECONOMIC REGION MALAYSIA. Retrieved from http://www.carecprogram.org/uploads/events/2014/CAREC-IMT-Workshop-KL/Presentation-Materials /009_134_209_Regional-Corridors-The-ECER-Experience.pdf
Fraser, R. A., Mohd Zahari, M. S., Othman, Z., & Radzi, S. (2007). Hospitality industry
careers: Analysis on students interest based on different location of upbringing
and secondary school background. . Paper presented at the 5th Tourism
Educators Conference on Tourism and Hospitality, The New Paradigm,
Australia.
Friess, E. (2013). The components of tourism: Factors that influence your destination decision | Examiner.com. Retrieved March 22, 2016, from http://www.examiner.com/article/the-components-of-tourism-factors-that-influence-your-destination-decision
Hogan, J. J. (1992). Turnover and What to Do About It. Cornell Hospitality Quarterly, 33(1), 40-45
Hornikx, J., van Meurs, F., and Starren, M. (2007). An Empirical Study of Readers’
Associations with Multilingual Advertising: The Case of French, German and
Spanish in Dutch Advertising. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural
Development, 28(3), 204-219. Doi 10.2167/jmmd482.0
Jafari, J. & Way, W. (1994). Multicultural strategies in tourism. Cornell Hotel & Restaurant Administration Quarterly, 35(6), 72-79.
Jessop, B. D. (2016). Caribbean hospitality must be multilingual. Retrieved from http://www.caribbean-council.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Business-of-Tourism-Feb19-Caribbean-hospitality-must-be-multilingual.pdf
Jenkins, J.M., Hall, C.M. and Troughton, M. (1998). The Restructuring of Rural Economies: Rural Tourism and Recreation as a Government Response. In Tourism and Recreation in Rural Areas,R. Butler, ed. C.M. Hall, J.M. Jenkins, pp. 19–
42,Chichester: Wiley.
Joško, S., and Nikolina, B. 2013. Importance of Foreign Languages for a career in Tourism as perceived by Students in different years of study 2013. Edinburgh: University Press
Keller, J. W., (1998), The Global Village in 21st Century Persistence, Sustainability and Future, National Planning Conference AICP Press, www.asu.edu. Retrieved on April 25, 2010.
Kokkranikal, J.J. and Baum, T. (2002). Human Resources Development for Tourism in Rural Communities: A case study of Kerala, Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 7(2): 64-76.
Labaree, R. V. (2016). Research Guides: Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper: Writing a Case Study. Retrieved from http://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/casestudy
Lily. (2015). Multilingualism necessary for the Tourism Industry? | Big Translation. Retrieved May 8, 2016, from https://blog.stepes.com/multilingualism_for_tourism/
Linguistic Society of America. 2012. Multilingualism. Retrieved May 02, 2016, from
http://www.linguisticsociety.org/resource/multilingualism
Liu, A. (2006). Tourism in Rural Areas: Kedah, Malaysia, Tourism Management, 27(5): 878–889.
Long, P. and Lane, B. (2000). Rural Tourism Development, in Trends in Outdoor Recreation, Leisure and Tourism, ed. W.C. Gartner and D.W. Lime, p. 299-308, Wallingford: CAB International
Mansor, N., Arinie, W., & Ahmad, W. (2011). Tourism Challenges among the SMEs in State of Terengganu. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 2(1), 101–112. Retrieved from http://www.ijbssnet.com/journals/Vol._2_No._1;_January_2011/9.pdf
McClinchey, K.A. and Carmichael, B.A. (2010). Countryside Capital, Changing Rural
Landscapes and Rural Tourism Implications in Mennoite Country, Journal of Rural and Community Development, 5(1/2): 178–199.
Md Dali, M. (2001). The Positioning of Malaysian Tourism Industry: Challenges and Opportunities, (6), 150–158. Retrieved from http://jati-dseas.um.edu.my/filebank/published_article/4335/8. 150-158 Melasutra Md Dali.. The Positioning Of Malaysian Tourism Industry.. Jati 6.pdf
Md Salleh, N. Z., Abdul Hamid, A. B., Hashim, N. H., & Omain, S. Z. (2013). ISSUES AND CHALLENGES IN MALAYSIAN HOTEL OPERATIONS. Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling, 53(9), 1689–1699. http://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107415324.004
Menike, H. J. M. Y. S., & Pathmalatha, K. M. (2015). Developing Foreign Language Competencies of Tourism Industry Oriented Undergraduates in Sri Lanka, 2(August 2014), 8–10. Retrieved from http://www.igutourism.com/article/view/14574/9403
Mohd Ayob, N., & Masron, T. (2014). Issues of Safety and Security: New Challenging to Malaysia Tourism Industry. SHS Web of Conferences, 12, 01083. http://doi.org/10.1051/shsconf/20141201083
Mohd Bukhari, A. M., & Hilmi, M. F. (2012). Challenges and outcome of innovative behavior: A qualitative study of tourism related entrepreneurs. Journal of Technology Management and Innovation, 7(2), 131–143. http://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-27242012000200011
Murrmann, J. (2013). The importance of linguistic competences in the tourism sector in Poland: Employers about foreign languages skills. Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling, 53(9), 1689–1699. http://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107415324.004
Nation, R. 81 McLaughlin, B. 1986. Experts and novices: An information-processing
approach to the ‘good language learner’ problem. Applied Psycholinguistics 7: 51-56.
Pace, M. (2015). Language Proficiency and the Tourism Industry - a Key Combination. Retrieved May 8, 2016, from http://the-insider.biz/index.php/issues/vol-iii-issue-12/item/363-language-proficiency-and-the-tourism-industry-a-key-combination
Phipps, A. 2007. Learning the Arts of Linguistic Survival : Languaging, Tourism, Life. Great
Britain: MPG Books Ltd. Ramsay, R. 1980. Language-learning approach styles of adult multilinguals and sucessful language learners. In Studies in Child Language and Mulitilingualism, V. Teller & S. White (eds), 73-96. New York : New York Academy of Sciences.
Sindik, J., & Božinovi?, N. (2013). IMPORTANCE OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES FOR A CAREER IN TOURISM AS PERCEIVED BY STUDENTS IN DIFFERENT YEARS OF STUDY, XV(June), 1–13.
Simpson, M. C. (2008). Community Benefit Tourism Initiatives—A conceptual oxymoron? Tourism Management, 29: 1–18.
Tan, S. N., & Lim, B. K. (2008). School Of Arts and Social Science Diploma in Business BBD 3033 Malaysian Economics Group Assignment I, (March), 1–10.
Tourism Malaysia. (n.d.). Retrieved May 2, 2016, from http://www.tourism.gov.my/statistics
UNCSD NGO Steering Committee, (1999). Sustainable Tourism: A Non-Governmental Organization Perspective in Tourism and Sustainable Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, New York: United Nation.
Weinreich, U. 1953. Languages in Contact: Findings and Problems. New York : Linguistic Circle of New York.
Suhaimi, N. I. B., & Abdullah, A. T. H. bin. (2017). The Role of Multilingualism in Enhancing Tourism Sector in Malaysia. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 7(7), 742-756.
Copyright: © 2017 The Author(s)
Published by Human Resource Management Academic Research Society (www.hrmars.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
