Malaysian English – a preamble

In Malaysia, the variety known as Malaysian English (MalE) owes much to its coexistence with other local languages. Several indigenized sub-varieties of MalE can be identified at the informal level, depending on the L1 . These sub-varieties coexist with a more codified and standardized model variety. In some aspects, however, (on the lexical level particularly) this tendency is slowly being changed, with some of the informal features also appearing in rhetorical and official discourse. Some lexical items occur in the Malaysian print and broadcast media not only in headlinese style but in full reporting style. Some headline examples are Anti-da-dah (‘drug’) operations in kampong (‘village’); Ganja (‘marijuana’) victim gets six years and rotan (‘caning’); Sawi (‘spinach’) glut hits farmers; Eight get Da-tukship (‘lordship’) for Ruler’s Birthday; Toddy (‘fermented coconut water’) to be bottled and canned for export and Penghulus (‘village-chiefs’) get ultimatum.

Apart from such influx of lexis into the MalE speaker’s repertoire, the phonological and syntactic features too have elements of nativisation. The extent or degree to which each of these levels have been indigenized varies, however, from one non-native variety to the other. Furthermore, within each of these new Englishes there is also differentiation between the standardized norm (the model acceptable for official purposes like teaching in schools, official functions etc.) and the more communicative style used in the speech of most users. The terms used to distinguish these two levels are the acrolect and the mesolect respectively. In Malaysia, the acrolect tends towards StdBrE although some local influence at the lexical and phonological levels is tolerated. The mesolect is very much the Malaysian variety – the informal style used among Malaysians. Speakers often weave into and out of this mesolect, using an almost International English at one instance (perhaps when speaking to a superior or with a non-Malaysian) and then switching into the mesolectal MalE when speaking to a friend.

There is a third lect so to speak – the basilect – which most often signifies the uneducated style of speech communication which can be considered the patois form of the new Englishes – be they Malaysian, Indian or African English. In Malaysia, this is often termed broken English or half-past six English (half-past six being a local adjective referring to something below expectation or standard).

With almost two centuries of nurturing and over three decades of nursing, English in Malaysia has developed into a typical progeny of the New Englishes. Two centuries indicate the period of English language currency in Malaysia. Three decades represent, firstly, the time span during which English in Malaysia was officially ascribed secondary status (1965 to 2003) and when its official role has changed. Secondly, it represents the approximate period of time during which most recent issues in the identification and recognition of the New Englishes have been vehemently debated.

Although its basic features of phonology, syntax and lexis are not totally different from the original British English, MalE shows sufficient influence from local languages as well as modifications by way of over-generalization, simplification, omission etc. that have become fossilized enough to be recognizably Malaysian. This is attested to by captions like the following which appear frequently in articles and editorials in the local English dailies: ‘Our special way of talking; The Malaysian ‘lah’ is here to stay; We all talk like machine-gun aa?; Our own lingolah and Malaysian English dictionary on the way’.