English Language in Malaysia

O Malaysian English (MyE), formally known

as Malaysian Standard English (MySE)

O Form of English used and spoken in

Malaysia as a second language

O Features:
O Originates from British English (Colonial

era) O Post-colonial influence by American English

Baskaran (1994) has categorized Manglish into 3 sociolects:

O

Acrolect ('high' social dialect) - used for official or educational purposes, considered to be the standard educated sub-variety that approximates native competence and is used in formal speech as well as in written forms by speakers who have been educated in English;

Mesolect ('middle' social dialect) - used in semiformal and casual situations, a sub-variety that is used in informal situations among fellow Malaysians.

Basilect ('low' social dialect) - used informally and colloquially as a

'patois' shades into a pidgin used mostly by village peddlers when

talking to tourists and other potential customers.

O Malaysian Colloquial English which is

famously known as MANGLISH or Street English

O Manglish is a Malaysian speaking style

with many similarities with the Singaporean Singlish. It is a distorted usage of English that is mainly spoken between the locals. O Using mixing grammar and words that don't belong together can be done quite spontaneously and be quite amusing.

O The local language (Malay) terms,

intonations, exclamations and grammar are fused with English O The changing the pronunciation, intonation, over-simplifying the grammar to express the words.

Commonly used form of Manglish

Word Lah Meaning Used to affirm a statement (similar to "of course"). Frequently used at the end of sentences and usually ends with an exclamation mark (!). Used when asking questions, especially when a person is skeptical of something. Used when explaining something. Example Don't be an idiot lah!

Meh

Really meh? Cannot meh? Like that lor!

Lor

ah

Derived from the Chinese expression "a". Used at the end of sentences, unlike meh the question is rhetorical. Also used when asking a genuine question. Besides that, some people use it when referring to a subject before making a (usually negative) comment. Used as a literal translation from the Malay word 'ada'. The arrangement of words is often also literally translated. This particular particle is widely abused in Manglish, mainly because of the difficulty for the Manglish speaker of comprehending the various correct uses of the English verb 'to have'. Therefore, 'got' is substituted for every tense of the verb.

Why is he like that ah? Is that true ah? My brother ah, always disturb me!

Got

You got anything to do? (Kamu ada apa-apa untuk buat?) I got already/got/will get my car from the garage. Got or not? (Really?) Where got? (To deny something, as in Malay "Mana ada?")

Manglish Got or not?

English Did that happen? or Do you have it? Are you sure?

Sure ah?

Like dat cannot la!

I cannot accept it this way or in this condition Isn't this good enough? or This should be acceptable, isn't it?
Is this/that correct? or Is the statement true?

O.K. wat? (OK what?)

..is it?

English versus Manglish

O WHEN GIVING A CUSTOMER BAD NEWS

Britons: I'm sorry, sir, but we don't seem to have the sweater you want in your size, but if you give me a moment, I can call the other outlets for you. Malaysians: No stock.
RETURNING A CALL Britons: Hello, this is John Smith. Did anyone call for me a few moments ago? Malaysians: Hello, who call?

ASKING SOMEONE TO MAKE WAY Britons: Excuse me, I would like to get by. Would you please make way? Malaysians: S-kew me. WHEN SOMEONE OFFERS TO PAY Britons: Hey! Put your wallet away, this drink is on me. Malaysians: No need lah. WHEN ASKING FOR PERMISSION Britons: Excuse me, but do you think it would be possible for me to enter through this door? Malaysians: (pointing at the door) Can ah?

O An example of a short conversation in colloquial Malaysian

English (non-standard English) may sound like this: Housewife : Your fish so flabby, no good one. Fishmonger : Like that already hard , what. How hard one you want? You want stone, want wood. I can't find. Housewife : You half-past six lawyer one. Give little bit cheap la, this fish. Fishmonger : Oh, that's why you said that kind, said thing flabby, you want Cheap-cheap. Housewife : You don't want give, I look other places. Fishmonger : Look, look la, wait you come back look me also
(Adibah Aroin, New Straits Times, 3V December 1992)

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