SharifStudy
Background
Malaysia official language is Malay. The terminology as per government policy is Bahasa Malaysia (literally “Malaysia languages”) but legislation continues to refer to the official language as Bahasa Melayu (literally “Malay language”).
The National Language Act 1967 specifies the Latin (Rumi) script as the official script of the national language, but does not prohibit the use of the traditional Jawi script.
English remains an active second language in Malaysia, with its use allowed for some official purposes under the National Language Act of 1967. In Sarawak, English is an official state language alongside Malaysian language.
Historically, English was the de facto administrative language, with Malaysian language becoming predominant after the 1969 race riots (13 May Incident).
Malaysian English, also called Malaysian Standard English, originates from British English.
Businesses use Malaysian English extensively alongside Manglish, a colloquial form of English that Malay, Chinese, and Tamil heavily influence. The government discourages the use of non-standard Malay, but has no power to issue compounds or fines to those who use improper Malay on their advertisements.
Many other languages are used in Malaysia, which contains speakers of 137 living languages. Peninsular Malaysia contains speakers of 41 of these languages. The native tribes of East Malaysia have their own languages which are related to, but easily distinguishable from, Malay.
Iban is the main tribal language in Sarawak, while Dusunic and Kadazan languages are spoken by the natives in Sabah. Chinese Malaysians predominantly speak Chinese dialects from the southern provinces of China.
The more common Chinese varieties of the country are Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainanese, and Fuzhou. Tamil is used predominantly by Tamils, who form a majority of Malaysian Indians.
Malaysia Language
Malay
The governing UMNO party has affiliations with a significant portion of the Malaysian media, as the government and ruling coalition political parties own the country’s primary newspaper.
Additionally, major opposition parties publish their own publications. There is a considerable circulation of English, Chinese, and Tamil daily in addition to Malay publications.
Critics have accused the media of escalating tensions between Indonesia and Malaysia and generating a negative perception of Indonesians among Malaysians. There is a gap between the media in the northern and southern regions of Malaysia.
The Peninsular media gives East Malaysian news minimal prominence and often considers it as a colony of the Peninsula. Outside of major metropolitan centers, Internet connectivity is uncommon, and the poorer classes have limited access to non-government news sources.
English
Malaysian English, also referred to as Malaysian Standard English (MySE), has evolved from British English. However, there is minimal formal usage of the name outside of the educational context.
After independence, the Parliament briefly utilized English before they gradually shifted to the Malay language. However, they still employ specific authorized terms in English to this day. However, English continues to be an official language in the State Legislative Assemblies and Courts of Sabah and Sarawak. Malaysian English is quite similar to normal British English.
People in commerce also widely use Malaysian English and Manglish, a colloquial version of English with substantial Malay, Chinese, and Tamil influences. Some Malaysians are exclusively proficient in Manglish, despite the fact that the majority of Malaysians (especially those who reside in metropolitan areas) speak English.
Officially, the Malaysian government opposes the usage of Manglish. Numerous companies in Malaysia undertake transactions in English, and the language is sometimes used in government letters.
Chinese language
Malaysian Chinese frequently speak Standard Chinese (Mandarin) and its Malaysian dialect, using them as the most common forms of communication. These languages serve as a lingua franca among Malaysian Chinese. It allows individuals who speak different mutually incomprehensible dialects to communicate with one another. Mandarin is also the language of instruction in Chinese schools and an important commercial language.
In Malaysia, people speak multiple southern Chinese dialects alongside Standard Chinese (Mandarin), which originated in northern China and the school system introduced. Peninsular Malaysia’s most prevalent varieties are Hokkien, Cantonese, Hakka, Hainanese, and Hokchew.
People mostly speak Hokkien in Malacca, Penang, Perlis, Klang, Johor, Northern Perak, Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu, while they primarily speak Cantonese in Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, Seremban, and Kuantan.
The majority of ethnic Chinese in Sarawak speak Hokkien, Hokchew, or Hakka. Despite the Hakka roots of the Chinese residents, they use Cantonese more often in the city of Sandakan, while Hakka predominates as the language in Sabah elsewhere.
Tamil
Tamil and its Malaysian variant are mostly spoken by Tamils, who constitute the majority of Malaysian Indians. It is particularly prevalent in Peninsular Malaysia.
The Education Act of 1996 regulates the use of Tamil as the medium of instruction at the primary level in “national-type schools” and entitles Tamil children to receive Tamil classes in national primary schools and national secondary schools (which use Malay as the medium of instruction) if “it is reasonable and practicable to do so and if at least fifteen pupils in the school so request.”
Tamil-speaking immigrants to Malaysia originated from two distinct populations: Sri Lankan Tamils who spoke Sri Lankan Tamil varieties, such as the Jaffna Tamil dialect, and Indian Tamils who spoke the Tamil Nadu dialect.
Both languages showed evidence of class distinctions, as the better-educated Sri Lankan Tamils supervised the Indian Tamils, who primarily worked as laborers on rubber plantations.
In Malaysia, these two populations with their very distinct dialects remained mostly apart, constituting two distinct Tamil communities. Tamil is becoming less frequent among the Tamil community with the highest levels of education, as English and Malay replace it.
Many perceive Tamil-medium schools as less beneficial compared to English-medium schools due to the limited opportunities they provide for socioeconomic growth.
The Malaysian government does offer some assistance for Tamil primary education, but secondary schools solely teach Malay, and there are no private Tamil institutions available. The less educated Tamil population predominantly resides in their own communities on or near plantations or in urban slums, where they widely speak Tamil.
Creoles
A limited percentage of Malaysians have Eurasian origin and speak creole languages, such as the Malaccan Creoles that are based on Portuguese. Zamboangueo Chavacano, a creole based on Spanish, has spread to Sabah from the southern Philippines.
Malaysia Language Diversity and Cultural Heritage
The rich cultural legacy of Malaysia is closely linked to its linguistic diversity, which reflects the nation’s cosmopolitan society.
Malaysia’s linguistic landscape is diverse, with indigenous languages, Chinese dialects, Indian languages, and others. This diversity not only contributes to Malaysia’s distinct identity, but also reflects its past contacts with many different cultures and civilizations.
FAQs
1.How many languages are spoken in Malaysia?
- 137 languages are spoken in Malaysia, 41 in Peninsular Malaysia. Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil are taught in primary schools by the government.
2. Is it necessary to know Malay to study in Malaysia?
- While many universities in Malaysia offer courses in English, having a basic understanding of Malay can be beneficial for daily communication and cultural integration. However, it’s not mandatory for international students to know Malay, as English is widely used in academic and professional settings.
3. Are there language programs available for international students who want to learn Malay or other local languages?
- Yes, many universities and language institutes in Malaysia offer language programs specifically designed for international students to learn Malay and other local languages. These programs cater to various proficiency levels and provide opportunities for cultural immersion.
