One of the best ways to improve your formal language skills is to read the news. News articles use formal structures, a specific vocabulary, and the passive voice (`di-`) extensively. This chapter will break down a sample news report to help you understand this style of writing.
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
Let's analyze a short, typical news report about a minor landslide.
HULU LANGAT, 15 Ogos – Satu kejadian tanah runtuh telah dilaporkan berlaku di Kilometer 21, Jalan Hulu Langat lewat petang semalam. Kejadian ini dipercayai berlaku akibat hujan lebat yang berterusan selama beberapa jam.
Menurut pihak berkuasa tempatan, tiada kemalangan jiwa atau kecederaan yang dilaporkan. Namun, jalan tersebut telah ditutup sepenuhnya kepada semua kenderaan bagi memudahkan kerja-kerja pembersihan.
Pengguna jalan raya dinasihatkan untuk menggunakan laluan alternatif sehingga siasatan lanjut dan kerja pembersihan diselesaikan.
| Word/Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| tanah runtuh | landslide |
| ditutup sementara | temporarily closed |
| dilaporkan | was reported |
| dipercayai | is believed |
| akibat hujan lebat | as a result of heavy rain |
| pihak berkuasa | the authorities |
| kemalangan jiwa | loss of life / fatality |
| kenderaan | vehicles |
| memudahkan | to ease / to facilitate |
| kerja-kerja pembersihan | cleaning works |
| pengguna jalan raya | road users |
| dinasihatkan | are advised |
| laluan alternatif | alternative route |
| siasatan lanjut | further investigation |
| diselesaikan | is completed / resolved |
Master the vocabulary of formal news reporting.
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Based on the news article above, answer these questions (in English).
Cemerlang! You've successfully dissected a formal news report. This skill is invaluable for understanding official communication in Malaysia. While news reports are formal, most of a country's culture is expressed through more informal media. In the next chapter, we'll explore Memahami Media (Understanding Media: TV & Songs) to get a taste of how Malay is used in entertainment.