Language and Literature Bureau

For similar institution in Malaysia, see Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.

Language and Literature Bureau

Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka ديوان بهاس دان ڤوستاک
Logo of Language and Literature Bureau
Language and Literature Bureau headquarters
Agency overview
Formed	19 April 1960; 64 years ago (1960-04-19)
Jurisdiction	Government of Brunei
Headquarters	Jalan Pembangunan, Lapangan Terbang Lama, Berakas BB3510, Brunei
Minister responsible	Nazmi Mohamad, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports
Agency executive	Suip Abdul Wahab, Director
Parent department	Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports
Website	www.dbp.gov.bn

4°55′22″N 114°55′37″E The Language and Literature Bureau (Malay: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, DBP) is the Bruneian language authority of the country's official language Malay. It is also the operator of public libraries in the country. It was established in 1960 and is now a government department under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.

History

The establishment of the Lembaga Bahasa (Language Board) began with the approval of an usul (motion) during a Legislative Council meeting on 18 April 1960.^[1] The motion was to establish an independent body answerable to the government with the function of consolidating the status of Malay as the official language of Brunei, as enacted in the Constitution (Perlembagaan) which was promulgated in the previous year.^[1][2] However, it was later renamed to Bahagian Bahasa dan Pustaka (Language and Literature Section) in 1962.^[3] At the time it was established under the authority of Jabatan Pelajaran (Department of Education).^[4] On 1 January 1965, it was made into a separate department and eventually adopted the name Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (Language and Literature Bureau).^[4] In 1984, the agency was subsumed under the authority of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.^[3]

Dictionary and other publications

Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Brunei publishes Kamus Bahasa Melayu Brunei, the official dictionary of the Brunei Malay language, the de facto lingua franca in Brunei. The dictionary was first published in 1991 and it is currently in its second edition, with entries over 15,000.^[5]

The Dewan also publishes four journals, namely Bahasa, Beriga, Pangsura and Undang-Undang Syariah, as well as three magazines, namely Bahana, Juara Pelajar and Mekar.^[6]

Public libraries

Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Brunei operates all public libraries in the country, which include:^[7][8]

• Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Library
• Sengkurong Library
• Muara Library
• Lambak Kanan Library
• Tutong District Library
• Kuala Belait Library
• Kampong Pandan Library
• Seria Library
• Temburong District Library

Since 1970, it also has introduced mobile library services, locally known as Perpustakaan Bergerak.^[9]

References

1. "Badan bebas untok menguasai bahasa Melayu" (PDF). Pelita Brunei (in Malay). No. 5 #9. Government of Brunei Information Service. 4 May 1960. p. 5. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
2. DK. SAIDAH POA (19 February 1992). "PERANAN DBP DALAM MENGEMBANGKAN BAHASA" (PDF). Aneka Pelita Brunei (in Malay). No. 8. Jabatan Penerangan. p. 2. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
3. "Latar Belakang | Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Brunei Darussalam". www.gerbangbahasa.gov.bn. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
4. "Sejarah Rengkas". www.dbp.gov.bn. Archived from the original on 12 August 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
5. Kamus Bahasa Melayu Brunei: Edisi Kedua. Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Brunei. 2010. pp. viii. ISBN 978-9991705439.
6. "Majalah-Majalah dan Jurnal Terbitan Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Brunei". www.dbp.gov.bn. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
7. "PERPUSTAKAAN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM". www.librarybrunei.gov.bn (in Malay). Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
8. "Perpustakaan DBP Seluruh Negara". dbplibrary.gov.bn. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
9. "Perpustakaan Bergerak DBP mulakan perkhidmatan" (PDF). Pelita Brunei (in Malay). No. 31. 5 August 1970. pp. 1, 8. Retrieved 14 July 2021.

External links

• Gerbang Bahasa | Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Brunei website (in Malay)
• Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Brunei website (in Malay)
• Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports website (in Malay)