The Malay Language
The Malay language was the most important language of the Malay World. Because merchants from many lands met at its ports, Malay became the lingua franca — a common language used for trade and communication across the region. During the age of Srivijaya, a form known as Old Malay was spoken and written, and it borrowed many words from Sanskrit, the language of Hindu-Buddhist learning.
From Ancient Scripts to Jawi
Early writing used Indian-based scripts such as Pallava and Kawi, seen on stone inscriptions. Local people also used the Rencong script, often carved on bamboo, bark and wood. The famous Kedukan Bukit inscription records Old Malay in an Indian script.
When Islam arrived, the Jawi script spread. Jawi uses Arabic letters with a few extra letters added to write Malay sounds. The Terengganu Inscription Stone (Batu Bersurat Terengganu), dated 1303, is one of the earliest proofs of Jawi and of Islam in the Malay World. In Melaka, Malay written in Jawi became the language of government, law and literature. Skilled scribes copied royal letters, treaties and religious books by hand, and Jawi remained the main script of the Malay World for many centuries. Only much later did Europeans introduce the Rumi (Roman) script, which is widely used today.
Key idea
Malay grew from Old Malay (rich with Sanskrit words) into the language of trade and rule, while writing developed from Indian scripts to the Jawi script after Islam arrived.
Remember
- Malay was the regional lingua franca.
- Jawi is based on Arabic letters.
- The Batu Bersurat Terengganu (1303) is early evidence of Jawi.