How Penang Hokkien speakers respond to triggers from the dominant Malay language

What is it about?

Penang Hokkien is the common tongue of the Chinese communities in Penang and its neighbouring states in Northern Malaysia. It is derived from the Southern Min dialect spoken by the early Chinese settlers. Over two centuries, Penang Hokkien has assimilated words and structures from the dominant Malay language. Through a detailed analysis of pún and tio̍h, this article studies how Penang Hokkien speakers respond to triggers from the Malay language.

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Photo by Rach Teo on Unsplash

Photo by Rach Teo on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This article contributes to a better understanding of the development of a Malay-dominant heritage language that is based on a Chinese dialect spoken in the Malay peninsula.