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The BabaMalayLanguage is a MalayBasedCreoleLanguage of Singapore. SIL code: BAL. ISO 639-2: crp. Population: 10,000 or more in Singapore (1986 A. Pakir). Estimates of ethnic Baba are from 250,000 to 400,000. Population: total both countries 15,000. Region: Mainly in the Katong District on the east coast and the surrounding districts of Geylang and Jao Chiat. Also spoken in Malaysia (Peninsular). Alternate names: CHINESE MALAY, BABA, STRAITS MALAY. Comments: It developed since the 15th century from Low Malay with many Hokkien Chinese borrowings. Regional variants between Malacca and Singapore. Partially intelligible with Standard Malay. It is generally believed that the Baba of Malaysia is more 'refined', and that of Singapore more 'rough'. Most have learned Standard Malay and English in school. Lim (1981) and Holm (1989) treat it as a Malay-based creole. It is different from Peranakan Indonesian. Some who grew up with Chinese neighbors know Hokkien, Teochew, and Cantonese. Children now learn Mandarin in school rather than Standard Malay. Baba is mainly used in the home and with other Babas. The only monolinguals are over 70 years old. NT 1913, out of print. Also spoken in: Malaysia (Peninsular). (Language name: MALAY, BABA.) Population: 5,000 in Malacca or 3% of the Chinese population (1979 Tan Chee Beng). Alternate names: STRAITS MALAY, CHINESE MALAY. Comments: Regional variants between Malacca and Singapore. Partially intelligible with Standard Malay. It is different from Peranakan Indonesian. Much bilingualism in Standard Malay. The only monolinguals are over 70 years old. It developed since the 15th century from Low Malay with many Hokkien Chinese borrowings. Lim (1981) and Holm (1989) treat it as a Malay-based creole. NT 1913, out of print.(extract from http://www.ethnologue.com/)
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