Also Known As:
Sri Lankan Creole Malay, Melayu Bahasa, Java Jati, Sri Lankan Malay, Melayu, Sri Lanka pe Melayu, Java, Ja basawa, Java mozhi
Dialects & Varieties
Keeping Kirinda vital: The endangerment-empowerment dilemma in the documentation of Sri Lanka Malay
Lim, Lisa and Ansaldo, Umberto. 2006. Keeping Kirinda vital: The endangerment-empowerment dilemma in the documentation of Sri Lanka Malay. ACLC Working Papers 1. 51-66. http://www.academia.edu/2461108/Keeping_Kirinda_vital_The_endangerment-…
Endangered
80 percent certain, based on the evidence available
Speaker Number Trends
Speaker Number Trend 4
Less than half of the community speaks the language, and speaker numbers are decreasing at an accelerated pace.
4
Domains of Use
Domain Of Use 4
Used mainly only in the home and/or with family, and may not be the primary language even in these domains for many community members.
4
Transmission
Transmission 1
Most adults in the community, and some children, are speakers.
1
Speakers
Native or fluent speakers:
No results found.
Second-language speakers and learners
No results found.
Semi-speakers or rememberers
No results found.
Children:
No results found.
Young adults
No results found.
Older adults
No results found.
Elders
No results found.
Ethnic or community population
No results found.
Year information was gathered
No results found.
Comments on speakers
In Colombo, Sinhala and English are predominantly used and younger generations can't speak Sri Lanka Malay. As for Sri Lanka Malay spoken on Slave Island, it has been strongly influenced by Tamil. In Hambantota and Kirinda, speakers of Sri Lanka Malay are often trilingual in Sinhala and Tamil. By contrast, Sri Lanka Malay is the dominant language spoken by all generations in Kirinda. However, language shift to Standard Malay has been observed in Sri Lanka Malay speaking communities.
Location and Context
Countries
Sri Lanka
Location Description
Colombo, Slave Island, Kandy & other Upcountry, Hambantota, and Kirinda
Government Support
No results found.
Institutional Support
No results found.
Speakers' Attitude
Revitalization projects by communities members are heard but they target at learning Malaysia's Standard Malay instead of Sri Lanka Malay.
Other Languages Used By The Community
Sinhala; Tamil; English; Standard Malay
Number of Other Language Speakers:
All the Sri Lanka Malay speakers are at least bilingual in Sinhala or Tamil which is the natinoal language.
Domains of Other Languages:
almost all
Writing Systems
Standard orthography:
No results found.
Writing system:
No results found.
Other writing systems used:
No results text.
Comments on writing systems:
No results found.
Recent Resources
A grammar guide for Sri Lanka Malay.
Sri Lanka Malay
Outlines history and grammar of Sri Lankan Malay