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ENGLISHINMALAYSIA

1.INTRODUCTION
Do you know "Manglish"? This language is English in Malaysia, but Malaysians
are not native speakers of English. Many people live there, for example,
Malaysians, Chinese, Indians, etc. however since the 19th century, Malaysia was
occupied by England. In 1957, Malaysia became independent of England, but
now, the Malaysian government cannot prohibit Malaysians from using English.
So English contributes to the Malaysian economy. English is money, fortune.
Also, Malaysia has many people, so they speak many languages. English serves
as a common language for all of these different people. Can you understand
Malaysian history of English? For example, Malaysia has many people. If you
were born in Malaysian, you would study Malay and English. If you were born in
Chinese Malaysian, you would study Chinese (CANTONESE and HOKKIEN) and
English. If you were born in Indian Malaysian, you would study TAMILU and
English. In Malaysia, they cannot live with only one language. So, Manglish is a
very useful language in Malaysia.
Malaysian English "Manglish" is a very interesting language. This language is
influenced by Malaysia, China, India, U.K, etc. In this paper, I will write about
Manglish's Asian influences and Manglish's English influences, as well as make a
summary of today's Malaysian governments policy and present condition to
worlds English.
2.MANGLISH'S ASIAN INFLUENCE
For a long time, Malaysia has been influenced by many other countries. (China,
India, etc.) "KAKYOU", or Chinese people are also prevalent in Malaysia.
Manglish, too mixes each language's (Malaysian, Chinese, Indian) words,
expression and grammar, so Manglish is very different from Standard English.
2.1 Chinese
Ex1). Manglish: "long time no see lah"
Standard English: "I haven't seen you for along time."
Cantonese: hou loi mou kin nei a
This sentence has a lot of Chinese (CANTONESE) influences. Manglish literally
translates Chinese sentence into English words.
2.2 Japanese
At one time, Malaysia was occupied by Japan (1942-1957). So I discuss
common points of Malaysia and Japanese. If you know sentence's subject, you
can omit sentence's subject in Malay and Chinese. This is the same thing in
Japanese.
Ex2). A: "Today tired lah, don't want to work hard".
This sentence omits "I".
B: "You have roti canai?"
Standard English: "Do you have roti canai?"
C: "already sold out lah."
This sentence doesn't say "We".

Next is this.
Ex3). "Your coffee shop is open.
If a young woman wearing a skirt sits down opening her legs, they say this
word.SHAKAINO MADOGA AITEMASUYO(Japanese) is same meaning.
Native interrogate sentence is same thinking of Japanese.
Ex4). Did you check the gauge of the machine?
Manglish: Yes, I didnt check it.
Standard English: No, I didnt check it.
Malaysian people exchange the way of answer for English. So they say Yes
and Japanese is same
.
Past tense and present perfect are mixed.
Ex5). Manglish: I didnt take breakfast this morning.
Standard English: I have not taken breakfast this morning.
Ex6). Manglish: Manglish had achieved tremendous growth 3 years ago.

If it is the Standard English, it may use simple past tense. Malaysian, Chinese
and Japanese dont express verbs tense. This is different from Englishs
thinking.
2.3 Malaysian
Naturally, Manglish has been influenced by Malaysia. These words exchanged
Malaysian for Manglish.
Ex7). gatal (sexual interest)
Manglish: She is very gatal one, jump from one man to another.
kopi susu (milk coffees color)
Manglish: Their children are all kopi susu.
malu (shame)
Manglish: Aiyo, I so malu loh, I forgot to bring a present.
Habis (die, finish)
Manglish: Habis, The hard disk was crashed."
cabut (leave fast)
Manglish: Not even 5 oclock yet, already everybody cabut from the office!
tidak apa (take it easy)
Manglish: Whatever I complained, they don care. They are just
tidak apa la.
How do you say these words Wow, Oh, well in Manglish?
Manglish: Aiyo! You are so bad one. Why you say me like that?

Manglish: Aiyer, This hawker is very dirty lah, and their service
Is also bad.
Manglish: Alamak, These is a police check lah, I drink too much tonight,
Im afraid got to summon.
Manglish: A: Dont use so many lah, please.
B: OK lah.
Manglish: Tonight we are going to the party. You are not going ah?
Manglish: Ali ah, can help me carry this or not?
3.MANGLISH ENGLISH INFLUENCE
3.1 British vs. US English
Malaysia was occupied by U.K, so Malaysian people usually speaks U.K English.
Its spelling and vocabulary are same.
Ex8).

Lift
Lorry
ground floor

Manglish
Lift
Lorry
ground floor

American
English
Elevator
Truck
first floor

British English
Lift
Lorry
ground floor

.CONCLUSION
Can you understand the difference between Manglish and English?
Manglish is one of the cultures of Malaysia. But Manglish is Dialect
English and isn't Native speaker of English. For example, Australian English,
Black American English. So this language Manglish cannot use around the
world.
4.1Todays Malaysian governments policy and present conditions
Malaysian government hopes that Malaysian people talk Malaysian a lot.
Malaysian Prime minister Mahathir looks like helping Manglish effect. But vice
prime minister Uncle says that we should not speak English . Especially, A
government official should not speak English. So, What do you say to a
Malaysian people. Many Malaysian people hope We can use English, so we
want to study chemistry techniques in English and apply these in English!
NOTE
All Ex). quote from KONSHU NO MALAYSIA July and August 1998.

English in Malaysia
By

Minoru Inoue
A research paper submitted to the
Foreign Language
of the Kumamoto Gakuen University
in part fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of
bachelor in English
in
TEFL/TESL
This research paper consists of approximately 1149 words

ABSTRACT
Some Malaysians speak a variety of Malay-style English called "Manglish". This
language "Manglish" is very interesting, because it has been influenced by
many languages, English, Chinese, Malay and etc. At first, why was this
language born? I discuss Malaysian language history. Malaysia is next door to
China. Also for a long, Malaysia was occupied by the English. I also discuss
some of major characteristics of Manglish grammar, vocabulary and usage.

CONTENS
CHAPTER1
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER2
Manglish's Asian influence
2.1. Malay
2.2. Chinese
2.3. Indian
2.4. Japanese
CHAPTER3
Manglish's English influence
3.1. British vs. US English
CHAPTER4
Conclusion
4.1
Today's Malaysian government's policy and present conditions
BIBLOGRAPHY

BIBLOGRAPHY
Konshu no Malaysia (This week in Malaysia, in Japanese), July 1998, available
http://www.big.or.jp/~aochan/column /98jlyang.html Nov, 7, 2000
Konshu no Malaysia (This week in Malaysia, in Japanese), July 1998, available
http://www.big.or.ip/~aochan/column/98jlyang.html Nov, 7, 2000
MALAYSIA NO REKISHI (Glimpses of Malaysian History), written by Datuk
Zainal Abdul Wahid, translated by Toru Nomura, Yamakawa Publishers, 1983
SERIES SITSUTEOKITAI TOUNAN ASIA (About East South Asia ), edited by
Rekishi Kyouikusya Kyougikai, Aoki Publishers, 1994
ASIA NO EIGO (Asian English) by Nobuyuki Honna, -Kuroshio Publishers, 1990
Singapore and Malaysia by Jhon platt, weber, and Main Lian Ho.-j.Benjamins
Publisher, 1983

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