Baba Malay
Diverging trends in two ecologies
Nala H. Lee
National University of Singapore, Singapore
Tis article sheds light on the systematic diferences between the variety of
Baba Malay spoken in Malacca and that spoken in Singapore. In the litera-
ture, the creole is usually discussed as if it is a single homogeneous variety.
Language documentation work conducted in both Malacca and Singapore
shows that there are crucial diferences between how Baba Malay is spoken
in both places. Tese diferences are systematic, and they pervade areas of
morphology and syntax. All diferences lead to the same conclusions. Evi-
dence shows that the variety of Baba Malay in Malacca is much more heav-
ily infuenced by its lexifer, Malay, than the variety that is spoken in
Singapore. Singapore Baba Malay is also more infuenced by its substrate,
Hokkien, than Malacca Baba Malay. Tis divergence between the two vari-
eties is attributed to their specifc ecologies. Crucially, the impetus for estab-
lishing two varieties of Baba Malay becomes even more vital than ever,
given the fact that both varieties are highly endangered, and that researchers
engaged in research on Baba Malay should be aware of both varieties and
their social environments in order to fully represent the creole.
Keywords: Baba Malay, Southeast Asia, Austronesian, Sino-Tibetan,
documentation, endangerment, ecology, morphology, syntax
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doi: 10.1075/jpcl.00004.lee (proofs)
Journal of Pidgin and Creole Languages 33:1 (2018), pp. 135–172. issn 0920-9034 | e-issn 1569-9870
© John Benjamins Publishing Company
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