LANGUAGE CHOICE OF CHETTI COMMUNITY IN MELAKA

The Chettis are an ethnic minority group in Melaka with a unique language. Although they are Indians by descent, they do not converse in Tamil. Instead they use a creolised Chetti language. This study studies the choice of language among the Chettis residing in Gajah Berang, Melaka. The research methodology used include questionnaires, interviews and observation. This study shows that the Chettis still use their own language especially at home and among family members. However, many also have the ability to converse in English, especially in their daily interactions. The findings of this research show that the Chetti language is still widely used as a conversational language among this minority group. This is a positive scenario considering the Chettis are a small minority within the larger Melaka society.