Langkat Malay

Langkat Malay (Langkat Malay: Bahase Melayu Langkat, Jawi: بهاس ملايو لڠكت) is a Malayic language primarily spoken by the Malay people living in Langkat Regency in the northernmost part of North Sumatra, Indonesia. Langkat Malay is closely related to other Malay varieties spoken along the eastern coast of Sumatra, including Deli Malay, Serdang Malay, and Tamiang Malay. Several ethnic groups reside in Langkat, including the Malays, Javanese, Banjarese, Batak, and Minangkabau. While the Malays are the indigenous people of Langkat, Javanese has become more widespread due to migration, as Javanese speakers now form the majority of the population. Despite this, Langkat Malay remains widely spoken in Langkat as the lingua franca and a common language for social interaction among residents. It coexists with other migrant languages such as Javanese, Banjar, and Orang Laut. As a result, some Malays can speak Javanese, Banjar, or Orang Laut, while many Javanese, Banjar, and Orang Laut speakers can also speak Langkat Malay.

The Malay people of Langkat use their language in both daily activities and traditional ceremonies. In everyday life, it serves a highly functional role, shaping various aspects of social interaction, including greetings, casual conversations on the street, visiting neighbors, chatting at the mosque before and after prayers, communicating during hunting in the forest, and other communal settings. Compared to its use as a daily communication tool, the use of Langkat Malay in traditional ceremonies exhibits a distinct pattern. This distinct pattern refers to variations that appear different from everyday usage. These variations primarily involve specific word choices or terms that are rarely used in other contexts. Nowadays, under the influence of Indonesian as the national language, many Langkat Malay speakers have begun to code-switch and code-mix between Langkat Malay and Indonesian. The language is currently under threat due to continued migration to Langkat from other parts of Indonesia such as Java, as well as a decline in fluency among Langkat Malays, especially among younger generations, who increasingly prefer to speak Indonesian.