Malay Identity in Southeast Asia: Understanding the Cultural and Linguistic Phenomena

摘要

In this limited essay, one cannot take into account all the complexities of the diverse cultural and linguistic phenomena reflected in Malay identity in an area as vast as Southeast Asia. Nonetheless, in the context of the conference theme, our starting point will be the recognitionthat language (and literacy) has been a highly valued commodity within the maritime network of Island Southeast Asia ever since the Tang dynasty. Reid’s (1988) characterization of the culture of sixteenth century ports as a phenomenon comprising three components: Islamic religion, Malayethnic identity and Malay language will serve as framework for exploring contemporary Southeast Asia. Today the three-component phenomenon (commodity) has become a package of three options from which to choose. We will survey some of the many “tailored” responses to that packageof options in Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. Although much more can be said about each “tailormade” commodity, especially with respect to age, gender and class, and although there are many more regional and local tailored packages, an encyclopedic digest isnot within our reach now. Language and ethnicity are diversely and complexly linked, and in the case of Island Southeast Asia, the hinterland and the vast seas are similarly interdependent.