Names in multilingual-multicultural Malaysia

Abstract

Malaysia is a multilingual-multicultural country. A study of personal and family names in Malaysia is not only interesting but also profound as this country is composed of three major ethnic groups: Malays, Chinese, and Indians. A name is one of the things that give individuals their own special identity, while also helping others identify the person. The focus of this paper is on ethnicity and names with special reference to Self Identity, Ethnic Identity, and Nation Identity. Factors affecting the above include race, religion, culture, language, dialect, and nationality. Issues that arise from such a study are of great importance not only to the individual but also to the individual as a member of a family and of a particular ethnic group, and at the macro level, as a member of a nation. © American Name Society 2008.