Chapter 3. Malaysian English

Azirah Hashim | University of Malaya, Malaysia

Rachel Siew Kuang Tan | University of Malaya, Malaysia

This chapter provides an overview of the status of Malaysian English (MalE) and discusses the phonological, grammatical and lexical features of this variety. It begins by giving the socio-historical and socio-political context in which this variety is found, illustrating the cultural diversity of and regional differences in the country. Features of pronunciation, grammar and lexis are described and exemplified. This is done firstly by providing a description of the vowels, consonants and suprasegmental features found. Secondly, structural nativization at the grammatical level is discussed focussing on noun phrase structure and verb phrase structure. Thirdly, lexis in MalE is highlighted and categorised according to whether they are globally known or locally known, used formally of informally, their ethnic origin as well as their currency.

Published online: 24 January 2012
https://doi.org/10.1075/veaw.g42.07has

Cited by

Cited by 5 other publications

No author info given

2013. In A Dictionary of Varieties of English, ► pp. 363 ff.

HASHIM, AZIRAH

2014. English and the linguistic ecology of Malaysia. World Englishes 33:4 ► pp. 458 ff.

Hashim, Azirah

2020. In The Handbook of Asian Englishes, ► pp. 373 ff.

Low, Ee Ling

2019. In The Handbook of World Englishes, ► pp. 135 ff.

Moody, Andrew

2020. The authority and authenticity of performative Englishes in popular culture. World Englishes

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 26 january 2021. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.