MALAYSIA

A. BACKGROUND

 HISTORICAL OF COUNTRY

Malaysia,country of Southeast Asia, lying just north of the Equator, that is composed of two
noncontiguous regions: Peninsular Malaysia (Semenanjung Malaysia), also called West
Malaysia (Malaysia Barat), which is on the Malay Peninsula, and East Malaysia (Malaysia
Timur), which is on the island of Borneo. The Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, lies in the
western part of the peninsula, about 25 miles (40 km) from the coast; the administrative
centre, Putrajaya, is located about 16 miles (25 km) south of the capital.

Malaysia is a beautiful and diverse country with many highlights. The many different regions,
each with their own characteristic features, make this country the perfect destination for
tourists. However, Malaysia does not entirely depend on tourism. This country's economy
has been going strong for years. On the contrary to what some people (still) believe,
Malaysia is not a third world country. The country has developed itself enormously in the
past 50 years and this is clearly noticeable when visiting it. Especially in Malaysia's capital,
Kuala Lumpur, you will see many modern buildings, a modern light rail transit system, many
luxurious shopping malls and countless expensive cars on the roads. Life outside of the
capital is often less developed; but even there the times of people only being able to afford
a motorcycle are long gone.

B.QUESTIONS

1. WHY AND HOW A PARTICULAR LANGUAGE IS LEARNED?

We are born without a language that others can understand. However, we learn and adapt,
and within a year, we understand, and sometimes speak, one language. Often, it is our
mother’s language—hence mother tongue—and if we are lucky enough to have parents
speaking different languages, then our father’s too.

Schools teach more languages formally, to empower us and make us participate

meaningfully in society and the economy. Each language is rich with culture, literature and
nuance.

2. WHAT IS MULTILINGUAL?

Speaks multiple Languages.

Multilingual is the term used to describe the proficiency in more than one language by an
individual or a community. For example, most Malaysian citizens are bilingual or multilingual
as they learn at least two languages in school in addition to their mother tongue. Although
the medium of instruction in international schools is English, additional languages are
commonly offered such as Mandarin, French and Spanish.

3. HOW MULTILINGUAL METHODS DEVELOP?

The Malaysian education system promotes bilingualism and multilingualism through the
establishment of primary schools with three mediums of instruction. Bahasa Malaysia, the

national language, is used as the medium of instruction (MI) in both primary and secondary

national schools, while Mandarin and Tamil act as the medium in national-type (vernacular)

primary Chinese and Tamil schools. At the same time, English is learnt as another language

subject that has economic significance. While Bahasa Malaysia does not serve as the MI in

national-type primary school, the language is taught as a compulsory language subject

alongside with the English language in these schools. This system for primary schools is an

established feature in the Malaysian national education system since the achievement of

independence from the British in 1957. The system implemented is considered appropriate

for the nation, taking into account the multi-ethnic and multicultural milieu characteristics of

the nation. While preserving the ethnic languages, Bahasa Malaysia and English are learnt as

common languages to communicate with other speech communities.

4. HOW THE MULTILINGUAL NATIONS DETERMINE THEIR LANGUAGE CHOICE THROUGH

LANGUAGE PLANNING?

.Much of the Malay language is influenced by other languages of the world, including Arabic,
Sanskrit, Tamil, Persian, Portuguese, Dutch, and some Chinese dialects. Some popular
examples would be days of the week (Arabic), ‘bumi’ (Sanskrit) and even almari (Portuguese).
Even some of the scientific and technological terms are borrowed from English.

The Malay dialect differs according to the region. Notable ones include Kelantanese,
Terrenganuan, Kedahan, Sarawakian and Negeri Sembilan Malay.

B. DISCUSSIONS

1. LANGUAGE AND SOCIETY

The official language spoken in Malaysia is the Malaysian language. This language is
sometimes called Malaysian Malay or simply just Malay or Malaysian. Malay is spoken by the
majority of the country and is taught extensively in the country's public education system.

There are said to be five historical periods to the development of the Malay language,
namely Old Malay, the Transitional Period, the Malacca Period (Classical Malay), Late
Modern Malay and modern Malay. Classical Malay played an integral role during the
Malacca Sultanate as it was the lingua franca used by traders across the Straits of Malacca.
2. MULTILINGUALISM LANGUAGE

Malaysia is known for being a multilingual country, housing speakers of approximately 137
languages. The national language is the Malay language. Other commonly spoken languages
include English, Mandarin and Tamil. Most people in Malaysia, especially the younger
generation, are multilingual and are able to speak several languages (not just their mother
tongues!) with varying fluency. Undoubtedly, Malaysia has become a mosaic of languages
due to its diversity.

3. LANGUAGE PLANNING IN MULTILINGUALISM SOCIETY

Overview of Languages in Malaysia

Language Status

Bahasa Malaysia Official Language

English Popular Second Language

Manglish Popular Language Consisting of Malay,

English, Chinese and Tamil Influences

Chinese Popular Especially in Southern Malaysia

Tamil Popularly Spoken Especially Among Indian

Population

Shinhalese Primarily Used By Sri Lankan Population

Iban Indigenous Language Used in Sarawak

Dusunic Indigenous Language Used in Sabah

Thai Minority Language

LANGUAGE PLANNING
A. LANGUAGE PLANNING AND IT CASES IN SOME COUNTRIES

The official national language chosen was Malay with the hope of maintaining unity and
promoting easy and effective communication within the society.

Malay - to achieve two basic goals:communication and social integration.

The Malay language has to be developed and enriched with technical and scientific terms as
Haugen’s model suggests for a successful language planning.

Malay language planning process will be evaluated based on Haugen’s revised language
model (1983). More specifically, the planning process of Malay will be carefully scrutinized in
the national and official domains.

B. TYPES OF LANGUAGE PLANNING

Since Malaysia is a multi ethnic and hence multilinguistic country, it was essential to choose
one common national language that can be used as a means for communication and social
interaction among the different ethnic groups.

C. IMPLEMENTATION

The National language implementation from a mere abstract Article in the constitution to a
reality demanded a systematic, rigorous language plan that required a great deal of time,
institutional team work of expertise, and a huge budget. It is a complex strategic plan in
which a particular language is carefully designed to assume the functions of administration,
culture, diplomacy,philosophy, technology, and science in a country speaking different
languages.

D. STANDARILIZATION

Article 152 of the constitution explains that the Malay language known as the official
language is the language that cannot be disputed on its functions and its role as the national
language. The position of the Malay language as the official language stabilised further with
the National Language Act 1967. Its importance as a language of knowledge and the medium
of teaching and learning has also led to the Education Act 1961 (revised 1996).

E. MODERNIZATION

. Malaysia has re-adopted the English language as the medium of instruction for science.
 4 TYPES OF IDIOLOGIES THAT MOTIVATES NEUTRAL DECISION MAKING IN LANGUAGE
PLANNING IN PARTICULAR SOCIETY.

1. LINGUISTIC ASSIMILATION

Malay the national language of Malaysia in view of the country’s location was influenced
by the usage and popularity of the Malay language between Malay traders and their foreign
partners at the time.

2. LINGUISTIC PLURALISM

- the recognition of more than one language, also takes a variety of forms.

But at the same time other languages used by other races in Malaysia, is free to be used
such as Mandarin by the Chinese and Tamil by the Indians. Apart from that, English had still
dominated the language in the trade and industry sector in the country. The Malaysian
Government also encourages its people to master other international languages particularly,
in tourism and international trade.

3. VERNACULARIZATION

- is the restoration or elaboration of an indigenous language and its adoption as an official

language.
There are over 30 native tribes in Malaysia that speak in their ancestral languages. Such
tribes include the Orang Asli community and East Malaysians. They speak Austronesian
languages which are largely inherited from the older generation as a way of preserving their
heritage.

In Sarawak, Jaku Iban (Iban) and Coastal Kadazan (Kadazan) has a strong presence as the
common medium of communication. In Sabah, the indigenous community speak Bajau,
Murut, Lun, Rungus, Bisaya, Iranun, Suluk, and Sama. However, due to the wide use of the
national language, some of these indigenous languages are now facing extinction.

4. INTERNATIONALIZATION

-is the adoption of a non-indigenous language of wider communication either as an official

language or for such purposes as education or trade.

As a developing country, Malaysia is made up of Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia

(Sabah and Sarawak). It has an estimated population of 31 million comprising 50% Malays,
25% Chinese, 10% Indian and 15% indigenous people who are mainly from Sabah and
Sarawak. As a multi-ethnic multicultural country, the principal languages spoken by those in
Peninsular Malaya are Malay, English, Mandarin, and Tamil. In the case of Sarawak, Malay is
the most commonly spoken dialect but Malay and English are generally used by those in
Sabah (generally by the higher social and economic class).

MAJOR ISSUES WITH THE LANGUAGE IN MULTILINGUAL

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