• Kuang Ching Hei

  Author

• Jawakhir Mior Jaafar

  Author

• Saroja Dhanapal

  Author

Multiethnic societies have a variety of address forms to use due to the mixed nature of their 
society but does each ethnic group converge or diverge from the addressees needs may be 
dependent on some social factors. This descriptive study aims to provide some evidence of the 
Malaysian context by focussing on data collected from four government agencies. The study will 
provide a typology of address forms used by the Malaysian public in addressing those serving at 
the immigration office, inland revenue department, police stations and court houses located in an 
urban area within the Klang valley. Data were extracted from public transactions occurring 
between parties who are of Malaysian Chinese, Malay and Indian (Tamil Speakers) descent. The 
demography is also representative of the country. Orthographically transcribed, data were then 
analysed by focussing on the formality of these address forms which may be articulated in the 
respective languages (Chinese – dialects including Mandarin, Malay and Tamil). Analysis shows 
that Malaysians of the three ethnic groups tend to use Malay address forms particularly when 
addressing Malay civil servants serving in these government agencies. Although data serve as a 
typology of address forms, they will be beneficial to course designers (education) and 
researchers working in language and communication as the findings can enable them to see the 
power structure of the Malaysian society. This knowledge can also be used for the benefit of 
tourists and expatriates in this country.  

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