English is the second language in Malaysia, but we bought a Malay phrase book (in the fabulous bookshop we found yesterday) anyway. The book says “it is an easy language to learn”. We’ll see about that….
In the meantime I really like Malayan English aka Manglish. This is what I’ve learnt already:
“tingwat?” – what do you think
“yusobadwan” (you’re such a bad one) – that’s not very nice
“izzit?” – an expression of mild disbelief
“blur” – confused, out of it
“noob” (to describe a person or a thing) – useless, lousy or incompetent
However my favourite (should be universal, tingwat?) is
“debladigarmen” – the bloody government
malaysianmeanderings 
Love it xx we saw in the paper that Singapore closed all schools on Friday and issued everyone with face masks because of the fires in Indonesia so thought the haze it would be over K.L too
LikeLike
Ah the Haze…. (Sounds as though it should be written with a capital letter, don’t know if it is!) Major topic of conversation, pollution index in all the papers,schools get closed, etc. Yesterday wasn’t too bad, today will be, apparently. We were offered a mask the other day, a few people wear them but by no means all.
LikeLike
Sylvia
Like the malaysian – izzit is a Lincolnshire expression too.
Shame your just getting into things and having to leave so soon. But expect you will be pleased to be away from the pollution.
I’m very bad at looking at blogs but will try to keep up.
Back in Goa now 31 degrees phew.
LikeLike
So do you think some of the colonial rubber planters were Lincolnshire lads and lasses?? Or did Malaysia colonise Lincolnshire? Who knows!
LikeLike
Reblogged this on post40postgrad and commented:
I love this Manglish and I am about to adopt these words immediately.Soon everyone in Dover will be speaking them!
LikeLike