Malay (Bahasa Melayu / )

Malay is an Austronesian language spoken in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei and Thailand. The
total number of speakers of Standard Malay is about 18 million. There are also about 170 million people
who speak Indonesian, which is a form of Malay.
The earliest known inscriptions in Malay were found in southern Sumatra and on the island of Bangka
and date from 683-6 AD. They were written in an Indian script during the time of the kingdom of Srivijaya.
When Islam arrived in southeast Asia during the 14th century, the Arabic script was adapted to write the
Malay language. In the 17th century, under influence from the Dutch and British, the Arabic script was
replaced by the Latin alphabet.
Arabic alphabet for Malay (Jawi / )

Numerals

Latin alphabet for Malay (Tulisan Rumi)
A a B b C c D d E e F f G g H h I i
e bi si di i ef ji hec ai
J j K k L l M m N n O o P p Q q R r
je ke el em en ou pi kiu ar
S s T t U u V v W w X x Y y Z z
es ti yu vi dabel
yu
eks wai zed
A recording of the Malay alphabet by Ng Kiat Quan
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malay_alphabet
Malay pronunciation

Notes
a = [] at the ends of words, [a/] elsewhere
v and x are only used in loanwords.
q is used in Arabic loanwords.
i and u are [e] and [o] respectively in close positions, such as ih, ik.
Information about Malay alphabets and pronunciation provided by
Sample text in Malay (Latin alphabet)
Semua manusia dilahirkan bebas dan samarata dari segi kemuliaan dan hak-hak. Mereka mempunyai
pemikiran dan perasaan hati dan hendaklah bertindak di antara satu sama lain dengan semangat
persaudaraan.
A recording of this text
Sample text in Malay (Jawi alphabet)

Translation
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and
conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)
Information about Malay | Malay phrases | Malay numbers | Tower of Babel in Malay | Malay learning
materials
Links
Information about the Malay language
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malay_language
http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/malaysia.html
Online Malay lessons
http://malay.pgoh13.com/
http://www.bahasa-malaysia-simple-fun.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMtJYGHsg4E
Malay phrases
http://mcs-bristol.tripod.com/learnmalay.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUo5QhbQ67c
http://linguanaut.com/english_malay.htm
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g293951-s604/Malaysia:Important.Phrases.html
http://www.expatypus.com/wiki/malay-language-bahasa-malaysia
http://www.digitaldialects.com/Malay/Phrases.htm
http://www.voyage99.com/useful-phrases.html
Online Malay dictionaries
http://kamus.lamanmini.com
http://pgoh13.com/dictionary.php
http://www.lexilogos.com/english/malay_dictionary.htm
http://www.stars21.com/dictionary/English-Malay_dictionary.html
http://www-clips.imag.fr/geta/services/dicoweb/dicoweb.html
http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~qntal/dictionary/
http://www.dictionary.tamilcube.com/malay_dictionary.aspx
Free Jawi fonts and software
http://www.anu.edu.au/asianstudies/ahcen/proudfoot/mmp/cara.html
Malayo-Polynesian languages
Acehnese, Aji, Aklan, Anutan, Balinese, Batak, Bikol, Bugis, Buhid, Bushi, Cebuano, Cham,Chamorro, C
huukese, Cia-
Cia, Cuyonon, Dawan, Drehu, Fijian, Filipino, Futunan, Hanuno'o,Hawaiian, Hiligaynon, Iban, Iloko, Indon
esian, Javanese, Kadazandusun, Kapampangan,Kiribati, Madurese, Makasarese, Malagasy, Malay, Man
dar, Maori, Maranao, Marshallese,Minangkabau, Moriori, Nauruan, Ndrumbea, Nias, Paamese, Paic, Pal
auan, Pangasinan,Pohnpeian, Raga, Rapa Nui, Rarotongan, Rejang, Rotuman, Sakao, Samoan, Central
Sinama,Sundanese, Tagalog, Tagbanwa, Tahitian, Tausg, Tetum, Tokelauan, Tongan, Toraja-
Sa'dan, Tuvaluan, Waray-Waray, Xrc, Yapese,
Other languages written with the: Arabic script | Latin alphabet


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