How similar is Indonesia and Malaysia?

Indonesia and Malaysia are two neighbouring nations that share similarities in many aspects. Their national languages; Indonesian language and Malay language are closely related and mutually intelligible. The majority of the population of both nations were of Austronesian ancestry.

Are Indonesian and Malaysian same language?

Malay and Indonesian are two standardised varieties of the Malay language, used in Malaysia and Indonesia, respectively. Both varieties are generally mutually intelligible, yet there are noticeable differences in spelling, grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary, as well as the predominant source of loanwords.

What is the difference between Indonesia and Malaysia’s official languages?

Both the national or official languages of Indonesia and Malaysia are variants of the Malay language (Bahasa Melayu). However, Indonesians prefer to call their official language “Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)” and they consider “Bahasa Melayu” (Malay) as the ethnic Malays’ language.

How many people speak Bahasa Indonesia and Malay?

According to the latest data from Ethnologue, about 198.5 million people speak Bahasa Indonesia. Bahasa Melayu is spoken by 19.1 million people. The Malay language is part of the Austronesian language family. Malay is spoken in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei.

What is the national language of Malaysia?

To Malaysians, the Malay language is generally understood as the national language of Malaysia, with Malaysian language ( Bahasa Malaysia) being a precise appellation for the Malay variety used in the country.

Are Bahasa Malaysia and Bahasa Melayu the same language?

Therefore, when you speak about Bahasa Malaysia and Bahasa Melayu, you refer to the same language. In Brunei, the English term they use is “Malay” for their official language – Bahasa Melayu. To make a distinction, Malaysians sometimes call the languages Malaysian Malay and Indonesian Malay.