Lingua Franca
The Tapestry of Malay Trade and Creole Languages
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Overview: The Genesis of Malay Lingua Francas
Historical Context
Beyond its classical and literary forms, Malay evolved through interethnic contact and trade across the Southeast Asian Archipelago. Following the rise of the Srivijaya empire, Malay established itself as a vital lingua franca. This historical role paved the way for the development of distinct trade languages and creoles.
Bazaar Malay: The Trade Language
Known as Bazaar Malay or Low Malay (Melayu Pasar), this language emerged as a simplified form of Malay used in trade and interethnic communication. It is widely believed to have originated as a pidgin, influenced by contact among Malay speakers, Hokkien traders, and European colonial languages like Portuguese and Dutch.
Linguistic Foundation
Bazaar Malay featured significant simplifications characteristic of pidgins. Key developments included the formation of possessives using punya ('to have'), the use of orang ('person') for plural pronouns, and the productive use of Malay affixes like tษ(r)- and bษ(r)-. The particle ada often marked progressive aspect.
Bazaar Malay Linguistics: Key Features
Grammatical Simplifications
Bazaar Malay exhibited distinct grammatical structures:
- Possessives: Formed with punya (e.g., Aku punya rumah - "My house").
- Plural Pronouns: Formed using orang (e.g., orang saya - "we").
- Verb Morphology: Reduced use of affixes, with tษ(r)- and bษ(r)- remaining productive.
- Aspect: Ada functioned as a progressive marker.
Lexical and Syntactic Features
Further characteristics included:
- Pronoun Reduction: Shortened forms of ini ('this') and itu ('that') appeared as ni and tu before nouns.
- Prepositional Usage: A single preposition, often sama, served multiple functions, including direct and indirect object marking.
- Causative Constructions: Formed using verbs like kasi/bษri ('to give') or bikin/buat ('to make').
Illustrative Examples
Consider these examples demonstrating Bazaar Malay structures:
- Rumahku ('my house') became Aku punya rumah (lit. "I have house").
- Aku pukul dia ('I hit him') could become Aku kasi pukul dia (lit. "I give hit him").
- Ardi dipukul oleh Dani ('Ardi is hit by Dani') might be rendered as Ardi kena pukul dek Dani.
Peranakan Varieties: Baba Malay & Indonesian
Baba Malay
Baba Malay, spoken by the Peranakans in Malacca and Singapore, emerged from contact between Hokkien settlers and local Malay women. It is characterized by a significant influence from Hokkien grammar alongside a Malay lexicon. As of 2014, approximately 2,000 speakers were recorded.
Example: Dia suka datang sini sembang. ("He likes to come here and gossip.")
Baba Indonesian
A related variant, Baba Indonesian, is spoken by Chinese-Indonesians in regions like East Java. It represents a blend of Indonesian, local languages (particularly Javanese), and Chinese elements, especially in specialized vocabulary. The Surabayan variety, Basa Suroboyoan, is a notable example.
Example: Kamu mbok ojok gitu! ("Don't act that way!")
Indonesian Creole Landscapes
Betawi Malay
The vernacular of Jakarta, Betawi Malay, developed from Batavia's diverse linguistic environment. Traditional Betawi dialects exhibit significant divergence from standard Indonesian, often existing in a post-creole continuum with colloquial Jakarta Indonesian, where the latter incorporates influences from Betawi and other migrant languages.
Makassar Malay
Prominent in South Sulawesi, Makassar Malay is a creole language built upon Bazaar Malay lexicon, Makassarese inflections, and mixed Malay/Makassarese syntax. It serves as a regional lingua franca, particularly among younger generations in urban centers.
Balinese Malay
Also known as Loloan Malay or Omong Kampong ("village speak"), this variety is spoken by ethnic Malays in northwestern Bali. It is considered a threatened language, reflecting the dynamic linguistic landscape of the Indonesian archipelago.
Other Indonesian Varieties
Numerous other Malay-based creoles and pidgins exist across Indonesia, including Gorap (Halmahera), Kupang Malay (Timor), Larantuka Malay (Flores), Manado Malay (North Sulawesi), Sula Malay (North Maluku), Ternate/North Moluccan Malay, and Papuan Malay (New Guinea). These languages showcase diverse influences and regional adaptations.
Global Threads: Beyond the Archipelago
Sri Lanka Malay
In Sri Lanka, a Malay-based creole emerged from the interaction of Malay traders with local Sinhala and Tamil populations. This language reflects a unique blend of linguistic heritage, adopted by communities such as the Sri Lankan Malays and Indian Peranakans.
Broome Pearling Lugger Pidgin
In Western Australia, the pearling industry fostered the development of Broome Pearling Lugger Pidgin. This pidgin facilitated communication among a diverse workforce, including Japanese, Malays, Torres Strait Islanders, Chinese, Filipinos, and various Indigenous Australian groups.
Sabah Malay
Sabah Malay, spoken in Malaysian Borneo, is a creolised variant of standard Malay. It incorporates loanwords from numerous local languages such as Dusun, Tausug, Sama-Bajau, as well as influences from Indonesian, Brunei Malay, and Chabacano, reflecting its role as a trade language in a multicultural region.
Eastern Indonesian Creoles: A Spectrum of Diversity
Common Features
Creoles in Eastern Indonesia often share common phonological and grammatical features derived from Bazaar Malay. These include vowel shifts (e.g., ษ to a, e, or assimilation), lowering of high vowels in certain contexts, loss of final plosives and nasals, and reduction of grammatical markers (e.g., sudah to su or so).
Key Varieties
Notable examples include:
- Ambonese Malay: A significant lingua franca in Eastern Indonesia, used in schools and churches.
- Banda Malay: A distinct variant of Moluccan Malay, perceived as unique by speakers.
- Kupang Malay: Spoken in West Timor, serving as a lingua franca with native speakers.
- Larantuka Malay: Spoken in Flores, considered a derivative of Malaccan Malay.
- Manado Malay: A creole spoken in North Sulawesi, often without a standardized orthography.
- Ternate/North Moluccan Malay: Used for intergroup communication across North Maluku, often called bahasa Pasar.
- Papuan Malay: A creole in Indonesian New Guinea, functioning as a lingua franca and increasingly having native speakers.
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