The Social Alignment Patterns of the Chinese in Nineteenth-Century Penang

Abstract

An exploration of the speech/locality segmentation of Chinese immigrant groups in the early (pre-1900) Malaysian Straits settlements, using inscriptional data on dialect-bound voluntary associations (ie, lists of names of donors [N = 14,500 entries]). Results show a unique social alignment pattern among the Chinese of Penang, as compared to those of Singapore & Malacca. Various dialect groups in Penang, especially the Hokkiens, were attracted to interprovincial associations, so cross-dialect-group participation (as measured by monetary contributions to voluntary organizations) was rare. Penang's system was closer to Malacca's than to Singapore's. It is suggested that existing theories on the rigidity of Chinese voluntary associations be reexamined. Modified HA.