Ethnologue 14 report for language code:MLI

MALAY: a language of Malaysia (Peninsular)

The following is the entry for this language as it appeared in the 14th edition (2000).
It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005). See also the corresponding entry in the current edition of Ethnologue.

SIL code: MLI

ISO 639-1: ms

ISO 639-2(B): may

ISO 639-2(T): msa

Population

7,181,000 or 47% of the population (1986), including 248,757 in Sarawak (1980 census), 2,000,000 in Kelantan and Trengganu, and 1,000,000 in other parts of Malaysia; 10,000,000 in Malaysia including second language speakers (1977 SIL). Population total all countries 18,000,000 or more.

Region

All districts of Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak. Also spoken in Brunei, Indonesia (Sumatra), Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, UAE, USA.

Alternate names

BAHASA MALAYSIA, BAHASA MALAYU, MALAYU, MELAJU, MELAYU, STANDARD MALAY

Dialects

TRENGGANU, KELANTAN, KEDAH, PERAK (SOUTHERN MALAY), SARAWAK MALAY, BAZAAR MALAY (LOW MALAY, PASAR MALAY, PASIR MALAY, TRADE MALAY).

Classification

Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Malayan, Local Malay.

Comments

'Bazaar Malay' is used to refer to many regional nonstandard dialects. Over 80% cognate with Indonesian. Bilingualism in English, Chinese, Tamil. National language. Grammar. SVO. Roman and Arabic (Jawi) scripts. Agriculturalists: wet and dry rice, rubber, fruits, vegetables; fishermen. Bible 1733-1993.

Also spoken in:

Brunei

Language name	MALAY
Alternate names	STANDARD MALAY
Comments	Used only in formal domains, like religion, government. Official language. Taught in school through third grade. Used in the classroom through the final year. Newspapers, radio programs, TV. Sunni Muslim. Bible 1733-1993. See main entry under Malaysia, Peninsular.

Indonesia (Sumatra)

Language name	MALAY
Population	10,000,000 in Indonesia (1981 Wurm and Hattori) including 2,000,000 in Riau, 40,000 in Bangka, 170,000 in Belitung.
Alternate names	MELAYU, MALAYU, MELAJU, BAHASA MELAYU, BAHASA MALAYU, STANDARD MALAY
Dialects	RIAU (RIOUW-LINGGA, JOHOR), JAKARTA, SAMBAS, DELI, MELAYU PASAR (BAZAAR MALAY, PASIR), BORNEO (SINTANG), KOTA-WARINGIN, SUKADANA, MAKAKAU, IRIANESE, MAKASSARESE, MANADONESE (MENADONESE), LABU (LEBU, LABU BASAP), RITOK (SIANTAN, PONTIANAK), BALIKPAPAN, SAMPIT, BAKUMPAI, WEST BORNEO COAST MALAY, BELIDE, LENGKAYAP, AJI, DAYA, MULAK, BANGKA, BELITUNG, LARANTUKA (ENDE MALAY), BASA KUPANG (KUPANG), PERANAKAN.
Comments	See separate entries for Kalimantan: Kutai Malay, Berau Malay, Bukit; Maluku: Ambonese Malay, Bacan Malay, North Moluccan Malay; Nusa Tenggara: Kupang Malay; Sumatra: Enim, Kaur, Kayu Agung, Lematang, Lembak, Jambi Malay, Lintang, Penesak, Rawas, Sindang Kelingi. Some listed as dialects are probably not inherently intelligible with Standard Malay or Indonesian. Kupang Malay and Larantuka Malay in Nusa Tenggara are very similar to each other. Over 80% cognate with Indonesian (J. Echols). Investigation needed: intelligibility with dialects. Sunni Muslim. Bible 1733-1993. See main entry under Malaysia, Peninsular.

Singapore

Language name	MALAY
Population	396,000 in Singapore (1985 estimate), 15.5% of the population.
Alternate names	BAHASA MALAY, MELAYU
Comments	Mandarin and Hokien are used as second languages by some, and 70% use English. Ethnic groups who speak Malay: Malay 339,000, 85%; Javanese 21,000, 5%; Indians 14,000, 3.5%; Bawean Madurese 14,000, 3.5%; Arabs 2,500, .6%; Bugis 500, .1%. English used at home by 7%. National language. Literacy rate in second language: 85%. Sunni Muslim, Christian. Bible 1733-1993. See main entry under Malaysia, Peninsular.

Thailand

Language name	MALAY
Alternate names	BAHASA MALAY, MELAYU
Comments	Shafi Muslim. Bible 1733-1993. See main entry under Malaysia, Peninsular.