Malaysia Languages

Description

 * The national, or official, language is Malay which is the mother tongue of the majority Malay ethnic group.
 * The main ethnic groups within Malaysia are the Malays, Chinese and Indians, with many other ethnic groups represented in smaller numbers, each with its own languages.
 * The largest native languages spoken in East Malaysia are the Iban, Dusunic, and Kadazan languages.
 * Malaysia contains speakers of 137 living languages, 41 of which are found in Peninsular Malaysia
 * English is widely understood and spoken in service industries and is a compulsory subject in primary and secondary school. It is also the main language spoken in most private colleges and universities. English may take precedence over Malay in certain official contexts as provided for by the National Language Act, especially in the states of Sabah and Sarawak, where it may be the official working language.

Alphabet and Pronunciation
Malay
 * Malay Alphabet and Pronunciation (Wikipedia)

Chinese - Malaysian Mandarin
 * Chinese - Malaysian Mandarin Alphabet and Pronunciation (Wikipedia)

Iban
 * Iban Alphabet and Pronunciation (Wikipedia)

Additional Resources
For word lists and help researching in Malaysian records, see:
 * Dutch Genealogical Word List
 * Portuguese Genealogical Word List
 * Chinese Genealogical Word List