'The Malacca Portuguese Creole Language is a fascinating reflex of the rich cultural exchange which took place between speakers of Portuguese during the Portuguese period 1511 - 1641. Thus the Malayanisation of Portuguese in Malacca led to the creation of a new language, properly termed, Malacca-Melayu Portuguese Creole, referred to by its speakers as Kristang.'

Alan Baxter

 'Kristang jah kriseh kora jenti Portugues jah cegah na praiya Malaka kung jah ngkontrah kung jenti-jenti bendora Malaiyu, Cina, Moru kung Arabi na anu-anu 1511 ateh 1641. Unga linggu komersiar jah fazeh, unga kultura jah bibeh kauzu isti akontisimentu. Mas bong, unga kultura riku kung unik jah bibeh ateh ozindia kontu lingu-lingu ki teng na Malaka na anu-anu passadu jah campurah fikah Malaka-Malaiyu Portugues Kriolu. Isti kultura, isti jenti, isti linggu nus comah Kristang.'       

Languages are dying at an alarming rate and Kristang along with a number of other ethnic languages of Asia will be no exception in meeting the same fate if concrete measures to preserve them are not taken.

Kristang, a minority language spoken and understood by approximately 5000 persons, fifty years old and above, in Malaysia and Singapore, is under threat of attrition. This does not simply mean the loss of a language but an entire culture that has survived for almost five hundred years in Malaysia, Singapore and some of the islands of Indonesia.

Kristang, some of whom speak, read and write fluent English will continue to use English more frequently in years to come alongside the Malaysian Language in their personal and professional lives. But, this is no reason why Kristangs should forget or forsake the language of their forefathers and watch with arms folded, its predicted end. Believe and be passionate about saving our Mother - Tongue.

My contribution towards the resuscitation, development, promotion and preservation of the Kristang Language is visible in Ungua Adanza(An Inheritance) published in 1995 in the Conference Report on the Revival of Spoken Kristang and the Development of the Malacca - Portuguese Heritage in 1999 and in the recent publication of Linggu Mai (Mother Tongue), the Kristang Phrasebook and the Kristang Speech and Song Compact Disc launched on 1st. September at the Selangor and Federal Territory Eurasian Association.

Kristang, the language of the descendants of the Malacca-Portuguese Creoles and the Soul of our Heritage has been documented for posterity and deserves a prominent place in the small world of written Creole languages still present in Southeast Asia.

Nus sa LINGGU fikah Nus sa Alma di Nus sa Andasang.

The Author

Linggu Mai

Conference Report

Ungua Adanza

*Paintings for sale