(Bandar Seri Begawan, May 2)
Professor Azan, a distinguished scholar in English linguistics, delivered a keynote lecture on Wednesday at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD). The lecture explored Brunei’s linguistic ecology, diversity, and fairness. It was part of UBD’s 40th-anniversary celebrations, marking its achievements in academia, innovation, and societal development since its establishment in 1985.
Professor Azan, a distinguished scholar in English linguistics, delivered a keynote lecture on Wednesday at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD). The lecture explored Brunei’s linguistic ecology, diversity, and fairness. It was part of UBD’s 40th-anniversary celebrations, marking its achievements in academia, innovation, and societal development since its establishment in 1985.
In his lecture titled “Brunei’s Linguistic Ecology: Diversity, Interaction, and Fairness”, Professor Azan employed a linguistic ecology framework to critically synthesize decades of research on Brunei’s multilingual landscape. From a sociolinguistic perspective, he systematically explained how Brunei’s diverse languages coexist, compete, and adapt within cultural, educational, and political contexts.
Professor Azan emphasized that multilingualism should be seen as a dynamic system rather than a “problem” to be solved. He urged society to adopt a more open attitude toward linguistic diversity and to advocate for fairness in linguistic ecology, recognizing the unique roles and intrinsic value of every language.
His research focuses on the interplay between language, education, and national policy, with particular attention to sociolinguistic and socio-cultural patterns. He highlighted Brunei as a multilingual society with a unique linguistic ecosystem, describing it as a “natural laboratory” for linguistic studies, ripe for exploration by local scholars.
Professor Azan served as Director of the Centre for Advanced Research (CARe) in Brunei from 2014 to 2017, leading several interdisciplinary research projects. From 2017 to 2018, he was Director and Visiting Professor of the UBD-FPT Global Centre in Da Nang, Vietnam, further expanding UBD’s international academic influence.
Throughout his career, he has received numerous accolades, including the UBD Excellence in Teaching Award in Arts and Humanities (2012), the Pingat Indah Kerja Baik (PIKB, 2013), the 28th National Teacher’s Day Special Commendation Award (2018), and the Long Service Medal (PKL, 2022).
As one of the first locally appointed scholars in UBD’s English Language and Linguistics Department, Professor Azan shared that his passion for linguistics stems from a deep desire to contribute to the advancement of linguistic studies in Brunei. His extensive publications, including his 2005 doctoral dissertation “Shifts in Linguistic Diversity in Negara Brunei Darussalam”, have been widely cited and recognized as pivotal works in Brunei’s linguistic research.