mbf ISO 639
Peranakan Autonyms
Malay, Baba
Visualizations
A language of Singapore
- ISO 639
- mbf
- Alternate Names
- Baba, Chinese Malay, Low Malay, Straits Malay
- Autonym
- Peranakan
- Population
- 10,000 in Singapore (Pakir 1986). Ethnic population: 250,000 (1986). Total users in all countries: 12,000.
- Location
- Mainly Kallang district, near city center; Geylang and Jao Chiat districts.
- Language Maps
- Malaysia: Peninsular
- Language Status
- 8a (Moribund).
- Classification
- Creole, Malay based
- Dialects
- None known. Baba Malay developed after 15th century from Low Malay with many Min Nan Chinese [nan] borrowings. Regional variants between Malacca and Singapore. Partially intelligible with Standard Malay [zsm]. It is generally believed that Baba of Malaysia is more refined, and that of Singapore more rough. Most learn Standard Malay and English in school. Distinct from Peranakan Indonesian [pea]. Baba in Melaka, Malaysia speak a Hokkien-influenced Malay creole; those in Penang, Malaysia speak a localized version of Hokkien [nan] (2006 Tan Chee Beng).
- Language Use
- Mainly in the home. Older adults only. Shifted to Malay [zlm]. Also use Mandarin Chinese [cmn]. Also use Min Nan Chinese [nan]. Also use Yue Chinese [yue].
- Language Development
- NT: 1913–2007.
- Writing
- Latin script [Latn].
- Language Resources
- OLAC resources in and about Malay, Baba
Also Spoken in
- Location
- Melaka: Melaka city area and nearby coast; Pulau Pinang: Malacca Straits, Pinang island.
- Language Status
- 8a (Moribund)
- Language Use
- Older adults only. Shifted to Malay [zlm]. Used as L2 by Malaccan Malay Creole [ccm].
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. Developed since the 15th century from Low Malay with many Hokkien Chinese borrowings. Lim (1981) and Holm (1989) treat it as a Malay-based creole. View other languages of Malaysia
Language Name
Malay, Baba
User Population
2,000 in Malaysia (Salleh 2006).
