Page Type: languageMalay, Sabah | Ethnologue

MSI ISO 639-3

Malay, Sabah

Bahasa Sabah Autonym

A language of Malaysia

ISO 639
msi
Alternate Names
Bazaar Malay, Pasar Malay, Sabah Malay Dialect
Autonym
Bahasa Sabah
Population
3,000,000 (2013 SIL), all users. L1 users: Mostly second-language speakers, but growing number of L1 speakers (2015 J. K. L. Wong). Ethnic population: No ethnic community (2015 J.K.L. Wong).
Location:
Sabah.
Language Status
3 (Wider communication). Used throughout the state of Sabah in virtually all non-formal domains. Estimated more than half (60%) of Sabah population, and almost all other language groups use Sabah Malay.
Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Malayo-Chamic, Malayic, Malay
Dialects
A member of macrolanguage Malay [msa].
Typology
SVO.
Language Use
Widely spoken in Sabah, beginning as a lingua franca for interaction with other ethnic groups for trading purposes. Since then, its function as a trade language has expanded. There is an increasing number of L1 speakers, especially children of mixed-ethnic parentage. This happens more often in urban areas than rural areas where mono-ethnic groups are concentrated. Mixed use: Home, Friends, Religion, Work. Used by all. Mixed attitudes. Used as L2 by Abai Sungai [abf], Banjar [bjn], Bonggi [bdg], Bookan Murut [bnb], Brunei [kxd], Bugis [bug], Cocos Islands Malay [coa], Dumpas [dmv], Gana [gnq], Hakka Chinese [hak], Ida’an [dbj], Iranun [ilm], Javanese [jav], Kadazan Dusun [dtp], Kalabakan Murut [kve], Keningau Murut [kxi], Kimaragang [kqr], Klias River Kadazan [kqt], Kolod Murut [kqv], Labuk-Kinabatangan Kadazan [dtb], Lamaholot [slp], Lanas Lobu [ruu], Lotud [dtr], Lundayeh [lnd], Mapun [sjm], Minokok [mqq], Molbog [pwm], Northern Tidung [ntd], Rungus [drg], Sabah Bisaya [bsy], Selungai Murut [slg], Sembakung Murut [sbr], Serudung Murut [srk], Southern Sama [ssb], Southern Tidung [itd], Suluk [tsg], Tahol Murut [mvv], Tatana [txx], Timugon Murut [tih], Tobilung [tgb], Tombonuo [txa], Toraja [sda], Upper Kinabatangan [dmg], West Coast Bajau [bdr].
Language Development
The Sabah Malay orthography has not been standardized. Reading and writing is done using the Standard Malay [zsm] orthography. Literature. Radio. Videos.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Malay, Sabah
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Sabah Malay is a simplified variety of Standard Malay [zsm], greatly influenced by Malay Brunei [kxd]. It has adopted many lexical items from the indigenous languages of Sabah. Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, traditional religion.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Sabah.