English
In 1811, Ahmad Rijaluddin, a Malay language teacher to British merchants, included English words in Hikayat Perintah Negeri Benggala, a report of his visit to Calcatta.
Malaysia is among the top ten English-speaking countries of the world in terms of speaker numbers. The status of English is tied to local history and to the language's embodiment as a symbol—a different symbol for different groups. Although a large number of Malaysians speak English, very few do so as their first language. Most speak colloquial Malaysian English, influenced by the grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation of the vernacular languages.
- Information in the full article includes
- History
- Contemporary English
- Varieties of English