ON THE TRANSLITERATION OF MALAY 
IN THE 
ROMAN CHARACTER. 
BY 
Were cebh oe MAS XOOWeE Is 1. 
SOR 
f 
=P) 
Qeu 
§—) OME years ago, in compliance with the directions of the 
») Secretary of State for the Colonies, a system was adopt- 
ed by the Government of the Straits Settlements for 
the spelling of native names,in which a want of con- 
formity was complained of. It is convenient and desira- 
ble that there should be some standard for the spelling of names 
which may appear in official correspondence, which may be printed 
in Blue-books, and quoted in Parliament. But a system may satis- 
factorily secure wniformity which may nevertheless be wanting on 
the score of scholarship, and, unless sound in the latter respect, it 
will not answer the purposes of the philologist or geographer. 
he adoption of the Government system by the Council of the 
Straits Branch, Royal Asiatic Society, as that which members are 
invited to adopt,* laysit open to their criticism. It may be ques- 
tioned if it is satisfactory from a scientific point of view, or in ac- 
cordance with principles of true scholarship. Two distinct sub- 
jects-—transliteration and pronunciation—are confused, and the re- 
port which deals with them does not sufficiently distinguish between 
instructions how to spell and instructions how to pronounce. 
Ses 
BA 
Nase 
- \\ 
ma), NS 
ee! 
oh 
* “ Malay and English Spelling,” Journal of the Straits Branch 
of the Royal Asiatic Society, Vol. I., p. 45. 
