Malayic varieties of Kelantan and Terengganu: description and linguistic history

Wu, J. (2023)

Doctoral Thesis

This dissertation examines the Malayic varieties spoken in Kelantan and Terengganu, two Malaysian states located on the northeast coast of the Malay Peninsula. It focuses on three varieties, namely Kelantan Malay, Coastal Terengganu Malay and Inland Terengganu Malay, all belonging to the Malayic subgroup within the Austronesian language family. On the basis of data gathered through linguistic fieldwork undertaken by the author, this dissertation provides the most comprehensive description of these languages to date and offers an analysis of their historical developments.
The three Malayic varieties under investigation display notable similarities in their phonological and morphosyntactic patterns, characterised by significant phonological and morphological reduction. Despite these common features, however, it is concluded that these varieties do not form a discrete subgroup within the Malayic languages. The common changes observed in their consonant systems must have followed distinct developments in the vowel systems. Furthermore, the morphological reduction was primarily driven by internal phonological changes, and no clear traces of substrate influences have been found.
It is proposed that Inland Terengganu Malay represents a separate variety, distinct from Kelantan Malay and Coastal Terengganu Malay. A two-wave migration pattern is suggested: speakers of Inland Terengganu Malay likely arrived in the region earlier, whereas the speakers of Kelantan Malay and Coastal Terengganu Malay arrived at a later stage.

• Malayic
• Vernacular Malayic
• Malay
• Peninsular Malaysia
• Phonology
• Morphology
• Morphosyntax
• Language documentation
• Descriptive linguistics
• Historical linguistics

• All authors: Wu, J.
• Supervisor: Klamer, M.A.F.; Hoogervorst, T.G.
• Co-supervisor: Adelaar, K.A.
• Committee: Kossmann, M.G.; Pillai, S.S.; Bruil, M.; Smith, A.D.
• Qualification: Doctor (dr.)
• Awarding Institution: Leiden University Centre for Linguistics (LUCL), Faculty of Humanities, Leiden University
• Date: 2023-09-28
• Title of host publication: LOT dissertation series
• Publisher: Amsterdam: LOT
• ISBN (print): 9789460934360
• DOI: doi:10.48273/LOT0651
• Name: 651
• Sponsorship: NWO
• Grant number: 322-70-013