How Standard English Differs from Malaysian English

Malaysian English is also known as Malaysian Standard English ( MySE ) is a

form of English used and spoken in Malaysia as a second language. Malaysian
English should not be confused with Malaysian colloquial English which is famously
known Manglish portmanteau of the word Malay and English or Street English.
Features
-

Manglish is generally non-rhotic regardless of the fact that all/r/s are

pronounce in native Malay.

Malaysian English originates form British English as a result of colonism in

present-day Malaysia.

It has component of American English, Malay, Chinese, India and other

language : vocabulary ,pronunciation, and grammar.

Like South Eastern British English, Malaysian English employs a broad a

accent, as such words bath and chance appear with /a:/rather than /

/.

The /t/in words like butter is usually not flapped (as in some forms of American
English ) or realized as a glottal stop ( as many form of British English ,
including cockney ) .

Malaysian English does not have you-dropping after /n/t/ and /d/.Hence, for
example , new tune and dune are pronounced /njui/,/tjuin/,and /djuin/ This
contrast with many East Anglian and East Midland varieties of British English
and with most forms of American English.

Varieties of English in Malaysia

According to Encyclopedia of Malaysia: language and literature, p 61 , English
Malaysian has been categorized into three levels :
1. acrolet
2. mesolect
3. basilect
The acrolet is near native. Only those educated in core English speaking
countries early schooling up to university many be found to speak the acrolet variety,

and only a small percentage of Malaysians are proficient in it. As with other similar
situations, a continuum exits between these three varieties and speaker may codeswitch between them depending on context. Most academics, professionals, and
other English-educated Malaysians, speak mesolect English. That is used daily
interaction.
Manglish refers to the colloquial , informal spoken form of Malaysian English. It
is the most common form of speaker English on street , but is discouraged at school
when only Malaysian Standard English is taught. Imported words are actually
minimal except for just a handful of common non-English is therefore a style based
decision. Colloquialisms exist that are not common outside of Malaysia, which are
used colloquially as subtitles in others language in Malaysia. Using Malay or
Chinese grammar in conjunction with English words, is often done quite
spontaneously, sometimes even for comic effect.
Malaysian English and British English
In the 1st half of the 20th century, Malaysian English was exactly similar to
British English (Br E) (albeit spoken with Malaysian accent). However, in the postcolonial era (after 1957), the influx of (arrival in great quantities) American TV
programmes has in influenced the usage of Malaysian English. There is no official
language board, council or organization to ensure the correct and standard usage of
Malaysian English, because after independence, Malay replaced English as the
official language. The University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate
continuous, however to set and mark the GCE O-Level English Language 1119
paper which is compulsory subject for the Malaysian Certificate of Education (the
English Language report set by the Malaysian Ministry of Education. is the same as
the English Language 1119 paper for GCE O-Level).
Unofficially, however NST English (named after the New Straits Times , the
oldest English Language daily in Malaysia) is often used as the reference point for
Malaysian English.
Words Only used in British English
To a large extent , Malaysian English is descended from British English,
largely due to the countrys colonization by British beginning from the 18 th century.
But because of influence from American mess media, particularly in the form of

television programmes and movies, Malaysians are also usually familiar with many
American English words. For instance, both lift/elevator and lorry/truck are
understood, although the British form is preferred. Only in some very limited cases is
the American English form more widespread, e.g. chips instead of crisp, fries and
diaper instead of nappy.
Words with different meaning in Malaysian English
Some words or phrases used in Malaysian have different meanings than in
British or American English.
American / British

Word / Phrase

Malaysian meaning

parking lot

parking space

English
parking garage (US)
a historical copying

a photocopies also used

machine using camera or

as a verb meaning to

photographic paper which

photocopy

was superseded by the

photostat

flat
apartment
condominium

low-cost apartment or flag

medium cost apartment or
flat
high cost apartment or flat

photocopies
apartment
flat (UK)
common hold (UK)
to go or behind. e.g. The

to follow accompany

to accompany

police car was following

me.

to come back e.g. They

to revert

went out this morning but

they to revert.
to take someone,

to send

somewhere e.g Can you

send me to the station.

to return to previous state

to cause something to go
somewhere without
accompanying.

Words only used in Malaysian English

Malaysian
hand phone (often abbreviated to HP)
Malaysian Chinese, Malaysian Indian
Keep In View (often abbreviated to KIV)

British / America
mobile phone or cell phone
Chinese Malaysian, India Malaysians.
Kept
on
file,
hold
for
further

Mee (from Hokkien word )

MC (Medical certificate)

consideration
noodles
sick note

Syntax
Syntactical differences are few although in colloquial speech shall and ought are
wanting, must is marginal for obligation and may is rare. Many syntactical
features of Malaysian English are found in other forms of English , e.g. Scottish
English , British English and North American English.
- Can I come too? For May I come too?
- Have you got any? Do you have any?
- Ive got one of those already for I have one of those already.
Phonology and Pronunciation
Officially, Manglish uses the same pronunciation system as British English.
However most Malaysian speak with distinctive accent. The accent is more to
America due to influx of American TV programmes and the large number of
Malaysian pursuing higher education in United States. For example, this increase the
emphasis on r in words as referring and world.
Role of Malaysian English in Independent Malaysia
Even though Malaysian English is no longer the official language of Malaysia,
it is still used among Malaysians and is recognized as the language of business.
About of 80 % of urban business in Malaysia conduct their transactions in English
(both Malaysian English and Manglish). However, American English has quite a
strong foothold in international businesses in Malaysia. There are several English
newspaper in Malaysia namely The Star, The Sun, New Straits Times and Malay
Mail. There are also many English radio stations such as Hitz FM, Mix FM, Lite
FM,Fly FM, Traxx fm and Red FM. However Malaysia does not have any television
station which broadcast purely in English. The Government National Language
requires local TV stations to air at least 25 % Malaysian-made programmes (either
Malay or English). Some privately owned TV stations (such as TV3,NTV7,8TV and
Astro Hitx TV) do air some English Malaysian made programmes. A few Malaysian
made TV programmes in Malay carry English subtitles and vice- versa.