Penang's Unique Languages Under Threat
By Agnes Chin
April 2025 FEATURE
IN THE BUSTLING Air Itam market area, the air thrums with a symphony of voices. A hawker calls out in Hokkien, laced with Malay and English words, enticing you to try his Rojak. An Indian auntie barters for spices in Malay, seasoned with a hint of Hokkien intonation. A group of teenagers weaves through the crowd, their conversation peppered with the ever-inventive Manglish. This is the music of Penang, a beautiful cacophony that speaks volumes about the state’s history and...
Agnes Chin
Penang-born Agnes Chin blends the worlds of writing and entrepreneurship as the creative force behind Meraki Word Craft, drawing on her experience in strategic management and operations. A lover of happy endings and Char Koay Teow, Agnes believes every story is worth telling—especially Penang’s.
