马来西亚汉语和马来语借词相互渗透之研究 = The Study of Loanwords between Chinese Language and Malay Language in Malaysia.

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to analyse the bi-directional lexical borrowing between the Chinese and Malay language in Malaysia. By comparing the amount of loanwords in these two languages, this study investigates why such bi-directional lexical borrowing between languages tends to be disproportionate.

This paper focuses especially on two aspects of Culture, namely food/eating and address terms, in order to better study this phenomenon of Chinese and Malay¿s bi-directional lexical borrowing. More importantly, the highest amount of loanwords in these two languages can be observed clearly in the category of food/eating and address terms.

This study not only discusses why bi-directional lexical borrowing between languages tends to be disproportionate, but it also attempts to explain the cultural meanings and background of the loanwords. In doing so, this paper seeks to provide an understanding of why and how interactions between the Chinese and Malay cultures have taken place in Malaysia.