The Readability of the Textbook ‘Bahasa Melayu Tingkatan 4’ Using Modified Fog Index

Abstract

Bahasa Melayu Tingkatan 4 is a Malay language textbook for sennior high school students in Malaysia. This book, published by the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Kuala Lumpur, in 2023, contains 16 learning themes. This study aims to describe the readability category of the Bahasa Melayu Tingkatan 4 using the Fog Index modification. This library research was conducted at the beginning of the 2025 school year. The population of this readability study was four narrative texts contained in the Bahasa Melayu Tingkatan 4. The four narratives texts are: 1) Menyusuri Pulau Inspirasi (pages 12-13); 2) Berguru dengan Aria Putera (page 20); 3) Fedah Sukan kepada Remaja (pages 39-40); 4) Mengintai Habitat Udang Harimau (pages 46-47). To collect readability data, non-test instruments were used, namely observation guidelines and checklists that were arranged objectively and systematically. The readability data of the Malay Language Book Level 4 were analyzed using the Fog index modification. The results of the analysis were validated using check-reck guidelines with time triangulation techniques. The results of the study: 1) the text Menyusuri Pulau Inspirasi (pages 12-13) has primary school-level readability; 2) the text Berguru dengan Aria Putera (page 20) has senior high school-level readability; 3) the text Fedah Sukan kepada Remaja (pages 39-40) has a primary school level readability; 4) Mengintai Habitat Udang Harimau (pages 46-47) has a lowprimary school level readability. This means that the four sample texts of the Malay Language book Level 4 have high readability because they are very easy to read by elementary school students, let alone by students of Level 4 of the Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan.