Malay pronunciation
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Pronunciation - Sebutan
This is a big challenge, using just words from other languages to represent those sounds utilised by another different language society. Somehow with Malay it seems quite possible especially if you are native speakers of German, Spanish or perhaps Russian where the spelling system adheres closely to the way it is voiced, of course with a little exceptions which won't defeat your enthusiasm to learn.
The consonants in Malay need not take much of your time. If you'd learned the basic functions of b, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q (no malay words use this anyway), r, s, t, v, w, x (not to worry too) y and z, you are on your way to mastering bahasa Melayu.
Take note: C is like ch as in English chair
A,a is like the u in English but, guard
So bahasa is like saying ba as in ba ba blacksheep
ha is like the ha when you laugh, hahaha,
sa is like the first syllable of supper
E in Malay or even Indonesian may need a special attention though if you are really serious of getting your pronunciation brilliantly uttered. There's two sounds for E in Malay. One is schwa like e.g berapa: how much/many . Its like English u in burp, or the i in Sir.
Whereas the other E is like English a in pay, say, bay. E.g. merah : red;
I works like i in English is, instruments, important . E.g. Sini : here,
O simply use the o as in Oh my God. E.g. botak :bald-headed; botol : bottle
U is always like the oo in oompah pah or the u in Bush, e.g buka : to open ; tutup : to close
For an online pronunciation guide with audio, try this site. It is safe to assume that all the required syllables for pronouncing Malay are contained in the nursery rhyme Ba Ba Black Sheep. The only exceptions are those words of Arabic origins, which of course remains a problem for some speakers of Malay. But then, your aim is to understand how the language operate and perhaps communicate. Unless you are preparing for oratorial skills, the basic prerequisites herein would suffice.
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