IN THE BUSTLING Air Itam market area, the air thrums with a symphony of voices. A hawker calls out in Hokkien, laced with Malay and English words, enticing you to try his Rojak. An Indian auntie barters for spices in Malay, seasoned with a hint of Hokkien intonation. A group of teenagers weaves through the crowd, their conversation peppered with the ever-inventive Manglish. This is the music of Penang, a beautiful cacophony that speaks volumes about the state’s history and its people.
Penang’s dialects and languages, shaped by centuries of immigration, trade and multicultural coexistence, are an essential part of its identity. As globalisation and modernisation influence daily life, these languages face existential challenges, raising questions about preservation, identity and adaptability in a rapidly changing world.
