Malay Language

Syntax.

The leading idea comes first and anything in inti mate relation to and qualifying it comes next. Thus the genitive, attributive adjective, and demonstrative follow the substantive.

There is no copula, and in simple sentences either predicate or subject may come first. Where subject, verb, and object appear, they occur normally in that order; but an emphatic object can precede the subject. With a passive verb the order subject, verb, agent, can be varied if the agent is the enclitic third personal pro noun nya, or if a preposition is used before the subject, agent, or both. In speech, sentences are usually shorter than in the written language.

Numerals.

The elements of the system are the integers to 9 (of which i has two forms, satu, the normal, and sa, proclitic before certain words), puloh, which by prefixing sa and the other integers to it forms i o and its multiples to 90, betas, similarly forming 1 i to 19, ratus, hundreds, ribu, thou sands, and likewise three words of Sanskrit origin for io,000, 100,000, and i,000,000. In enumerating concrete units it is usual to add to the numeral an auxiliary word (like "head" in "three head of cattle," for which Malay substitutes "tail").

Vocabulary.

The language is rich in specific expressions for minutely differentiated kinds of objects and actions (e.g., vari ous modes of carrying, striking, etc.). The vocabulary is very mixed, but native Malay words largely preponderate. The loan

words are mostly terms denoting abstract ideas or else things of foreign origin. In the middle ages many were borrowed from Sanskrit, and since the 14th century many more from Arabic. A fair number of Tamil, Persian, Hindustani, Javanese, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, and English words have also been adopted; and the last two classes (like the Arabic) are still growing. The influx of Dutch (and also Javanese) words into the Malay of the Dutch possessions is widening the gap between it and the language of British Malaya. (C. 0. B.) Literature.—Their most characteristic literature is to be found, not in their writings, but in the folk-tales which are trans mitted orally from generation to generation, and repeated by the wandering minstrels called by the people Peng-lipor Lara, i.e. "Soothers of Care." Some specimens of these are to be found in the Journal of the Straits Branch of the Asiatic Society (Singa pore). The collections of Malay Proverbs made by Klinkert, Maxwell and Clifford also give a good idea of the literary methods of the Malays. Their verse is of a very primitive description. There are rhymed fairy tales. The best Malay books are the Hikdyat Hang Mak, Bestamam and the Hikayat Abdzdlah. The latter is a diary of events kept during Sir Stamford Raffles' admin istration by his Malay scribe.