Lexical and Discoursal Nativisation in Baba Malay: Portraying Ethnic Identity in Malaysian Fiction

This study investigates the nativisation of Baba Malay in Malaysian English literature, focusing on how its lexical and discoursal elements shape the ethnic identity in selected short stories. The primary objective is to examine how the Straits Chinese author Lee Su Kim integrates Baba Malay into English narratives to reflect cultural hybridity. Using a qualitative approach, the study applies Kachru’s (1986) framework to analyse nativisation strategies, categorised into contextual, cohesive, and rhetorical adaptations. A selection of 19 short stories from Kebaya Tales and Sarong Secrets was made based on their incorporation of Baba Malay expressions, cultural themes, and linguistic adaptation. The analysis was validated through an expert informant review to ensure linguistic and cultural accuracy. The findings reveal that Lee Su Kim strategically employs Baba Malay lexical borrowings, hybridised expressions, and culturally embedded discourse styles to construct a distinct Peranakan identity. This study contributes to discussions of language adaptation, ethnic representation, and bilingual creativity in postcolonial literature, reinforcing the role of nativised English in preserving cultural narratives.