Communication is definitely a problem between host that only speak Malay and guests who mostly
speak English and their native tongue. The Malaysian guests could communicate fairly well although
there were quite a number times when sign language had to be used to emphasise a question or a point.
Mariam Jamaludin et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 42 ( 2012 ) 451 – 459 457
For the international guests, the hosts and these guests communicated through facial expression (smiles
mostly and sign language) and with the help of the Malaysian guests to translate for them.
In the first case study Kg. Laklok, there was a good interaction when there is a joint activities,
otherwise some of the hosts and the guests, kept to themselves and do their daily activities. In the second
case study Kg. Suri, the activities kept the guests and the host busy. In between time, the hosts and the
guests were seen chatting leisurely at the veranda sharing a rokok daun (the mild form of cigarette). There
seemed to be more natural interaction as opposed to planned interaction between the host and guests, in
Kg. Suri compared to Kg. Laklok.