English in Brunei and Malaysia

doi:10.1017/9781009748148.013

9 - English in Brunei and Malaysia

from I.III South-East Asia

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 18 April 2026

David Deterding and

Nur Raihan Mohamad

General editor

Raymond Hickey

Show author details

Raymond Hickey: Affiliation:
University of Limerick

Book contents

Get access

Summary

There are similarities in the historical development of English in Brunei and Malaysia, two countries that share many socio-cultural and linguistic traits; yet at the same time, differences in the educational policies that have been adopted have seen English promoted more consistently in Brunei, while support for English-medium education in Malaysia has fluctuated in recent decades, and this has resulted in a substantial divergence in the current status of English in the two countries. This chapter describes the historical development of English in Brunei and Malaysia, traces changes in educational policy over the past few decades, discusses the current status of English, provides an overview of some of the features of Brunei English and Malaysian English, gives a snapshot of local literature in English, and finally offers a brief prognosis for the future of English in the two countries.

Keywords

BruneiEnglish MalaysianEnglish educationalpolicy currentstatus

Information

Type: Chapter
Information: The New Cambridge History of the English Language
Africa, Asia, Australasia and the Pacific
, pp. 253 - 270

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009748148.013 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2026

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Book purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Haji Omar, Asmah. 1991. The Phonological Diversity of the Malay Dialects. Second edition. Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.Google Scholar

Haji Omar, Asmah. 2007. Malaysia and Brunei. In Simpson, Andrew (ed.), Language and National Identity in Asia. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 337–359.10.1093/oso/9780199267484.003.0015CrossRef Google Scholar

Hashim, Azirah and Tan, Rachel. 2012. Malaysian English. In Low, Ee-Ling and Hashim, Azirah (eds.), English in Southeast Asia: Features, Policy and Language in Use. Amsterdam: John Benjamins, pp. 55–74.10.1075/veaw.g42.07hasCrossRef Google Scholar

Baskaran, Loga. 2004a. Malaysian English: phonology. In Schneider, Edgar W., Burridge, Kate, Kortmann, Bernd, Mesthrie, Rajend and Upton, Clive (eds.), A Handbook of Varieties of English. Vol. I: Phonology. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter, pp. 1034–1046.Google Scholar

Baskaran, Loga. 2004b. Malaysian English: morphology and syntax. In Kortmann, Bernd, Burridge, Kate, Mesthrie, Rajend, Schneider, Edgar W. and Upton, Clive (eds.), A Handbook of Varieties of English. Vol. II: Morphology and Syntax. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter, pp. 1073–1085.Google Scholar

Brown, Adam. 1988. The staccato effect in the pronunciation of English in Malaysia and Singapore. In Foley, Joseph (ed.), New Englishes: The Case of Singapore. Singapore: Singapore University Press, pp. 115–128.Google Scholar

Chin, Grace V. S. 2007. New generation writings in English: discursive conditions and literary revival in Malaysia 1996–2005. In Prescott, David (ed.), English in Southeast Asia: Varieties, Literacies and Literatures. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars, pp. 260–289.Google Scholar

Clynes, Adrian and Deterding, David. 2011. Standard Malay (Brunei). Journal of the International Phonetic Association 41: 259–268.10.1017/S002510031100017XCrossRef Google Scholar

Department of Economic Planning and Statistics. 2021. Population. Ministry of Finance and Economy. www.deps.gov.bn/SitePages/Population.aspx.Google Scholar

Deterding, David. 2021. Variation across Englishes: phonology. In Kirkpatrick, Andy (ed.), The Routledge Handbook of World Englishes. Second edition. London: Routledge, pp. 595–608.Google Scholar

Deterding, David and Ho, Hannah M. Y.. 2021. Introduction. In Ho, Hannah M. Y. and Deterding, David (eds.), Engaging Modern Brunei: Research on Language, Literature and Culture. Singapore: Springer, pp. 1–17.Google Scholar

Deterding, David and Kirkpatrick, Andy. 2006. Emerging South-East Asian Englishes and intelligibility. World Englishes 25: 391–409.10.1111/j.1467-971X.2006.00478.xCrossRef Google Scholar

Deterding, David and Salbrina, Sharbawi. 2013. Brunei English: A New Variety in a Multilingual Society. Heidelberg: Springer.10.1007/978-94-007-6347-0CrossRef Google Scholar

Deterding, David and Yamaguchi, Toshiko. 2016. A prognosis for the future. In Yamaguchi, Toshiko and Deterding, David (eds.), English in Malaysia: Current Use and Status. Leiden: Brill, pp. 193–195.Google Scholar

Gardiner, Ishamina Athirah and Deterding, David. 2019. Language selection and assessment in Brunei Darussalam. In Fang, Fan and Widodo, Handoyo Puji (eds.), Critical Perspectives on Global Englishes in Asia: Language Policy, Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment. Bristol: Multilingual Matters, pp. 45–63.10.2307/jj.22730606.8CrossRef Google Scholar

Gill, Saran Kaur. 2005. Language policy in Malaysia: reversing direction. Language Policy 4: 241–260.10.1007/s10993-005-7859-9CrossRef Google Scholar

Gill, Saran Kaur and Hani Shaari, Azianura. 2019. Malaysia’s complex language policy journey via Bahasa Melayu and English. In Kirkpatrick, Andy and Liddicoat, Anthony J. (eds.), The Routledge International Handbook of Language Education Policy in Asia. London: Routledge, pp. 257–271.Google Scholar

Gunn, Geoffrey C. 1997. Language, Power, and Ideology in Brunei Darussalam. Athens: Ohio University Center for International Studies.Google Scholar

Haji-Othman, Noor Azam. 2007. English and the bilingual Bruneian. In Dunsworth, Katie (ed.), English in South East Asia: Challenges and Changes. Perth: Curtin University of Technology, pp. 59–70.Google Scholar

Haji-Othman, Noor Azam. 2016. Bilingual education revisited: the role of ugama schools in the spread of bilingualism. In Haji-Othman, Noor Azam, McLellan, James and Deterding, David (eds.), The Use and Status of Language in Brunei Darussalam: A Kingdom of Unexpected Linguistic Diversity. Singapore: Springer, pp. 253–265.10.1007/978-981-10-0853-5_16CrossRef Google Scholar

Haji-Othman, Noor Azam, McLellan, James and Deterding, David (eds.). 2016. The Use and Status of Language in Brunei Darussalam: A Kingdom of Unexpected Linguistic Diversity. Singapore: Springer.10.1007/978-981-10-0853-5CrossRef Google Scholar

Hickey, Raymond. 2014. A Dictionary of Varieties of English. Malden: Wiley-Blackwell.Google Scholar

Ho, Debbie G. E. and Deterding, David. 2016. The grammar of Brunei English. World Englishes 35.4: 542–553.10.1111/weng.12225CrossRef Google Scholar

Ho, Hannah M. Y. and Haji Amran, Rinni. 2021. Constructs of the modern home: negotiating identity in Anglophone Bruneian literature. In Ho, Hannah M. Y. and Deterding, David (eds.), Engaging Modern Brunei: Research on Language, Literature and Culture. Singapore: Springer, pp. 163–175.CrossRef Google Scholar

Hussainmiya, B. A. 1995. Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin III and Britain: The Making of Brunei Darussalam. Kuala Lumpur: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar

Hussainmiya, B. A. 2001. The Brunei Constitution of 1959: An Inside History. Bandar Seri Begawan: Brunei Press.Google Scholar

Hussainmiya, B. A. 2006. Brunei Revival of 1906: A Popular History. Bandar Seri Begawan: Brunei Press.Google Scholar

Athirah, Ishamina and Deterding, David. 2017. English medium education in a university in Brunei Darussalam: code-switching and intelligibility. In Fenton-Smith, Ben, Humphreys, Pamela and Walkinshaw, Ian (eds.), English Medium Education in Higher Education in Asia-Pacific from Policy to Pedagogy. Cham: Springer, pp. 281–298.Google Scholar

Jones, Gary M. 1996. The bilingual education policy in Brunei Darussalam. In Martin, Peter W., Ozóg, Conrad and Poedjosoedarmo, Gloria (eds.), Language Use and Language Change in Brunei Darussalam. Athens: Ohio University Center for International Studies, pp. 123–132.Google Scholar

Jones, Gary M. 1997. The changing role of English in Brunei Darussalam. In Brown, Adam (ed.), English in Southeast Asia: Proceedings of the First ‘English in Southeast Asia’ Conference. Singapore: National Institute of Education, pp. 13–34.Google Scholar

Jones, Gary M. 2007. 20 years of bilingual education: then and now. In Prescott, David (ed.), English in Southeast Asia: Varieties, Literacies and Literatures. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars, pp. 246–258.Google Scholar

Jones, Gary M. 2012. Language planning in its historical context in Brunei Darussalam. In Low, Ee-Ling and Hashim, Azirah (eds.), English in Southeast Asia: Features, Policy and Language in Use. Amsterdam: John Benjamins, pp. 175–198.10.1075/veaw.g42.15jonCrossRef Google Scholar

McLellan, James. 2021. Mixed codes or varieties of English. In Kirkpatrick, Andy (ed.), The Routledge Handbook of World Englishes. Second edition. London: Routledge, pp. 422–435.Google Scholar

Mesthrie, Rajend and Bhatt, Rakesh M.. 2008. World Englishes: The Study of New Linguistic Varieties. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.10.1017/CBO9780511791321CrossRef Google Scholar

Ministry of Education. 2009. The National Education System for the Twenty-First Century: SPN21. Bandar Seri Begawan: Ministry of Education.Google Scholar

Mohd Daud, Kathrina, Chin, Grace V. S. and Jukim, Maslin. 2021. Contemporary English and Malay literature in Brunei. In Ho, Hannah M. Y. and Deterding, David (eds.), Engaging Modern Brunei: Research on Language, Literature and Culture. Singapore: Springer, pp. 241–251.Google Scholar

Nicol, Mary F. 2005. Some problems experienced by Bruneian students with the Cambridge O level English language reading comprehension paper. Southeast Asia: A Multidisciplinary Journal 5: 47–70.Google Scholar

Nur, Raihan Mohamad. 2017. Rhoticity in Brunei English: a diachronic approach. South East Asia: A Multidisciplinary Journal 17: 1–7.Google Scholar

Nur, Raihan Mohamad and Deterding, David. 2016. The pronunciation of Brunei English. World Englishes 35.4: 519–528.Google Scholar

Ozóg, Conrad and Martin, Peter W.. 1996. The bah particle in Brunei English. In Martin, Peter W., Ozóg, Conrad and Poedjosoedarmo, Gloria (eds.), Language Use and Language Change in Brunei Darussalam. Athens: Ohio University Center for International Studies, pp. 236–249.Google Scholar

Quayum, Mohammad A. and Chin, Grace V. S.. 2021. The postcolonial millennium: new directions in Malaysian literature in English. Journal of Postcolonial Writing 57: 583–592.Google Scholar

Schneider, Edgar W. 2007. Postcolonial English: Varieties around the World. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.10.1017/CBO9780511618901CrossRef Google Scholar

Tan, Siew Imm. 2016. Malaysian English: evidence of contact with classifier languages. In Yamaguchi, Toshiko and Deterding, David (eds.), English in Malaysia: Current Use and Status. Leiden: Brill, pp. 25–44.Google Scholar

King Lee, Tong and Wei, Li. 2021. English in the Sinophone world. In Kirkpatrick, Andy (ed.), The Routledge Handbook of World Englishes. Second edition. London: Routledge, pp. 558–275.Google Scholar

Tongue, Ray K. 1979. The English of Singapore and Malaysia. Second edition. Singapore: Eastern Universities Press.Google Scholar

Wells, John C. 1982. Accents of English. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.10.1017/CBO9780511611759CrossRef Google Scholar

Wood, Alistair, Henry, Alex, Ayla Surya Malai Hj Abdullah, Malai and Clynes, Adrian. 2011. English in Brunei: ‘she speaks excellent English’ – ‘no he doesn’t’. In Zhang, Larry J., Rubdy, Rani and Alsagoff, Lubna (eds.), Asian Englishes: Changing Perspectives in a Globalized World. Singapore: Pearson, pp. 52–66.Google Scholar

Yamaguchi, Toshiko and Deterding, David. 2016. English in Malaysia: background, status and use. In Yamaguchi, Toshiko and Deterding, David (eds.), English in Malaysia: Current Use and Status. Leiden: Brill, pp. 3–22.10.1163/9789004314306CrossRef Google Scholar

Yamaguchi, Toshiko and Pétursson, Magnús. 2016. The new [t] in Malaysian English. In Yamaguchi, Toshiko and Deterding, David (eds.), English in Malaysia: Current Use and Status. Leiden: Brill, pp. 45–64.10.1163/9789004314306_004CrossRef Google Scholar

Accessibility standard: Inaccessible, or known limited accessibility

Why this information is here

This section outlines the accessibility features of this content - including support for screen readers, full keyboard navigation and high-contrast display options. This may not be relevant for you.

Accessibility Information

The HTML of this chapter is known to have missing or limited accessibility features. We may be reviewing its accessibility for future improvement, but final compliance is not yet assured and may be subject to legal exceptions. If you have any questions, please contact accessibility@cambridge.org.

Content Navigation

Table of contents navigation
Allows you to navigate directly to chapters, sections, or non‐text items through a linked table of contents, reducing the need for extensive scrolling.

Index navigation
Provides an interactive index, letting you go straight to where a term or subject appears in the text without manual searching.

Reading Order & Textual Equivalents

Single logical reading order
You will encounter all content (including footnotes, captions, etc.) in a clear, sequential flow, making it easier to follow with assistive tools like screen readers.

Visual Accessibility

Use of colour is not sole means of conveying information
You will still understand key ideas or prompts without relying solely on colour, which is especially helpful if you have colour vision deficiencies.

Structural and Technical Features

ARIA roles provided
You gain clarity from ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) roles and attributes, as they help assistive technologies interpret how each part of the content functions.