The Malay language has a long and proud history. It grew and changed over many centuries to become the language we use today.
From old to new
Long ago, people spoke Old Malay. During the great kingdom of Srivijaya, Old Malay was written on stone. The Kedukan Bukit inscription (about the year 683) is one of the oldest examples of written Malay. Later, during the Melaka Sultanate, the language grew into Classical Malay, written in the Jawi script.
Key idea
The Malay language grew through stages: Old Malay → Classical Malay → Modern Malay. Each stage borrowed new words and reached more people.
Borrowed words
Over time, Malay borrowed words from other languages, such as Sanskrit, Arabic and English. Today we write Malay in the Rumi (Roman) script as well as Jawi.
Remember
- The Kedukan Bukit inscription (about 683) is very old written Malay.
- Classical Malay grew during the Melaka Sultanate.
- Malay borrowed words from Sanskrit, Arabic and English.