The Malay language and ethnic identity in modern Malaysia

Colonial discourse about the Malay language and the Malay ethnic group were often at odds with each other. Yet, this conflicting, orientalistic mythology about “Malay” still functions in contemporary discussions about language and ethnicity in Malaysia. This essay aims at constructing a new vantage...

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Main Authors:	Collins, James T., Zaharani Ahmad
Format:	Article
Published:	Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 1999
Online Access:	http://journalarticle.ukm.my/4174/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/4174/

id	ukm-4174
recordtype	eprints
spelling	ukm-41742012-05-23T07:46:57Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/4174/ The Malay language and ethnic identity in modern Malaysia Collins, James T. Zaharani Ahmad, Colonial discourse about the Malay language and the Malay ethnic group were often at odds with each other. Yet, this conflicting, orientalistic mythology about “Malay” still functions in contemporary discussions about language and ethnicity in Malaysia. This essay aims at constructing a new vantage point from which to view Malay. Instead of focusing on its uniqueness, Malay is seen within the context of its language neighbourhood, that is its relationship to Malaysia’s other Malayo-Polynesian languages, Malaysia’s non-Malayo-Polynesian languages and the diverse regional and social dialects of Malay in Malaysia. Instead of discussing Malay as a political, nation-state phenomenon, Malay is considered as a demographic, emblematic and negotiated phenomenon. We must find new ways of looking at and talking about Malay language and Malay ethnicity; we need to produce new knowledge, not merely repeat colonial myths. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 1999-07 Article PeerReviewed Collins, James T. and Zaharani Ahmad, (1999) The Malay language and ethnic identity in modern Malaysia. AKADEMIKA, 55 . pp. 133-148. ISSN 0126-5008 http://pkukmweb.ukm.my/penerbit/jdem55-06.html
repository_type	Digital Repository
institution_category	Local University
institution	Universiti Kebangasaan Malaysia
building	UKM Institutional Repository
collection	Online Access
description	Colonial discourse about the Malay language and the Malay ethnic group were often at odds with each other. Yet, this conflicting, orientalistic mythology about “Malay” still functions in contemporary discussions about language and ethnicity in Malaysia. This essay aims at constructing a new vantage point from which to view Malay. Instead of focusing on its uniqueness, Malay is seen within the context of its language neighbourhood, that is its relationship to Malaysia’s other Malayo-Polynesian languages, Malaysia’s non-Malayo-Polynesian languages and the diverse regional and social dialects of Malay in Malaysia. Instead of discussing Malay as a political, nation-state phenomenon, Malay is considered as a demographic, emblematic and negotiated phenomenon. We must find new ways of looking at and talking about Malay language and Malay ethnicity; we need to produce new knowledge, not merely repeat colonial myths.
format	Article
author	Collins, James T. Zaharani Ahmad,
spellingShingle	Collins, James T. Zaharani Ahmad, The Malay language and ethnic identity in modern Malaysia
author_facet	Collins, James T. Zaharani Ahmad,
author_sort	Collins, James T.
title	The Malay language and ethnic identity in modern Malaysia
title_short	The Malay language and ethnic identity in modern Malaysia
title_full	The Malay language and ethnic identity in modern Malaysia
title_fullStr	The Malay language and ethnic identity in modern Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed	The Malay language and ethnic identity in modern Malaysia
title_sort	malay language and ethnic identity in modern malaysia
publisher	Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
publishDate	1999
url	http://journalarticle.ukm.my/4174/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/4174/
first_indexed	2023-09-18T19:40:49Z
last_indexed	2023-09-18T19:40:49Z
_version_	1777405577701359616

The Malay language and ethnic identity in modern Malaysia

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