The Many Faces of Malaysian English

Abstract

This paper provides a brief description on the aspect of Malaysian English lexis. It starts off with the developmental cycles of new varieties of English based on three main models by three main scholars, namely, Kachru’s three concentric circles of Englishes (1994), Moag’s life-cycle model (1982), and Schneider’s dynamic model (2007). It discusses the emergence and development of Malaysian English, the nonnative variety. It also explains Baskaran’s three levels of the lectal continuum; acrolect, mesolect, and basilect. The nonnative features involved in the Malaysian English lexis are also discussed briefly; the acrolect: borrowing, the mesolect, and basilect mixing, with examples. Generally, it discusses the emergence of the new varieties, the indigenisation of English in Malaysia, and the current status of English in Malaysia.