Editing Malaysian English (section)

==Varieties==
Malaysian English may be categorised into three levels: the [[acrolect]], [[mesolect]] and [[basilect]].<ref>''[[The Encyclopedia of Malaysia|The Encyclopedia of Malaysia: Languages & Literature]]'', p 61, edited by Prof. Dato' Dr Asmah Haji Omar (2004) {{ISBN|981-3018-52-6}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Baskaran, M. |title= The Malaysian English mosaic |doi=10.1017/S0266078400000857 |journal=English Today |volume=10 |issue=1 |date= January 1994 |pages=27–32|s2cid= 145377082 }}</ref> The acrolect is used by those with near-native level of proficiency in English, and only a relatively small percentage of Malaysians are fluent in it. The acrolect is internationally intelligible, and it is used for official purposes or formal occasions and written communications. It conforms to standard [[British English]], but some words that are specific to Malaysia may be used.{{sfnp|Sung|Spolsky|2015|pp=208–209}}<ref name="ISRN"/>

The mesolect is a localised form of English that is used by competent speakers of English or as an informal medium of communication between different ethnic groups of Malaysia. It may use some colloquial terms, and its [[grammar]] and [[syntax]] may show some deviations from standard English.{{sfnp|Azirah Hashim|Tan|2012|pp=57–59}}

The basilect is used very informally by those with limited proficiency and vocabulary in English, and it has features of an extended [[pidgin]] or [[Creole language|creole]] with syntax that deviates substantially from Standard English.<ref name="ISRN">{{cite journal |title=The Many Faces of Malaysian English |author=Jantmary Thirusanku |author2=Melor Md. Yunus |journal = ISRN Education|volume= 2012 |pages=1–14 |date=2012 |doi=10.5402/2012/138928 |doi-access=free }}</ref>{{sfnp|Azirah Hashim|Tan|2012|pp=57–59}} The basilect may be hard to understand internationally, and it is often referred to as [[Manglish]].<ref>{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=juAzDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA13 |title=English in Malaysia: Current Use and Status|editor= Toshiko Yamaguchi, David Deterding |page=13 |isbn=9789004314306 |publisher=Brill |date=7 April 2016 }}</ref>

As with other similar situations, a [[post-creole speech continuum|continuum]] exists between these three varieties, and speakers may [[code-switching|code-switch]] between them, depending on context. Most professionals and other English-educated Malaysians speak mesolect English informally between themselves, but they may also use a basilect depending on the circumstances. All three varieties may be seen as part of Malaysian English,{{sfnp|Azirah Hashim|Tan|2012|p=56}} but some prefer to see Malaysian English as a form distinct from the basilect Manglish, which tends to ignore English grammar,<ref name="star"/> while others may see the basilect as the "real" Malaysian English.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/viewpoints/mind-our-english/2013/10/08/just-dont-call-it-manglish/ |title= Just don't call it Manglish! | author=Alistair King|work=The Star |date=8 October 2013 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231121035911/https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/viewpoints/mind-our-english/2013/10/08/just-dont-call-it-manglish |archive-date= Nov 21, 2023 }}</ref> There is also no consensus on what Standard Malaysian English might be. Some regard the mesolect to be substandard English and a local dialect.{{sfnp|Sung|Spolsky|2015|pp=208–209}}

===Manglish===
{{Main|Manglish}}
Manglish refers to the [[colloquialism|colloquial]], informal spoken form of [[pidgin]] English in Malaysia that some considered to be distinct from more "correct" forms of Malaysian English.<ref name="star">{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/viewpoints/mind-our-english/2011/10/14/primer-on-manglish/ |title= Primer on Manglish |author=Lim Chin Lam |work= The Star |date= 14 October 2011 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006203400/https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/viewpoints/mind-our-english/2011/10/14/primer-on-manglish/ |archive-date= Oct 6, 2022 }}</ref> It exists in a wide variety of fnorms and primarily as a spoken form of English. It is the most common form of spoken English on the street, but it is discouraged in schools, where only Malaysian Standard English is taught. Its [[Lexis (linguistics)|lexis]] is strongly influenced by local languages, with many non-English nouns and verbs commonly used, and it is significantly different grammatically from Standard English.{{sfnp|Azirah Hashim|Tan|2012|pp=57–59}} There are colloquialisms in English that are not common outside of Malaysia, which are also used colloquially as substitutes in other languages in Malaysia. In Manglish, Malay or Chinese grammatical structure may be used with English words, which is often done quite spontaneously, sometimes for comic effect.{{cn|date=August 2021}}