The Borrowing of Sanskrit Words in the Malay Language: Research from the Perspective of Meaning

This study investigate a number of selected Sanskrit loanwords in the Malay language that focus on the aspect of meaning. Research into meaning includes two types of changes, namely narrowing and expanding meaning. The etymology approach that have been devised by Collins (2003) is applied in this study. Study data were obtained through a dictionary compiled by Winstedt (1959) entitled An Unabridged Malay-English Dictionary. A total of 605 known Sanskrit vocabulary certainly existed in the Malay language. However, this study will analyze only seven selected word. The determination of data includes aspects of religion and belief based on an assessment of the meaning recorded in the dictionary. The analysis of this study shows that the borrowing of words from the Sanskrit language has caused the narrowing and expansion of meaning. Narrowing and expansion of meaning some words occurs when there is a change in the religious aspects and beliefs of the Malay community, that is from Hindu-Buddhist to Islam. Based on research, the spread of Islam not only contributed to the increase of Arabic vocabulary in Malay language, but also influenced the meaning of wordsdue to the occurrence ofcontradictions from the point of view of belief values and teachings between Islam and Hindu-Buddhism.