Brunei Malay estimated that 94% of the words of Brunei Malay and Kedayan are lexically related. "Bini-bini" is exclusively used in Brunei to refer to a lady. In Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, it is an informal way to refer to one's wives or a group of married women. The vocabulary of Brunei Malay has been collected and published by several western explorers in Borneo including Pigafetta in 1521, De Crespigny in 1872, Charles Hose in 1893, A. S. Haynes in 1900, Sidney H. Ray in 1913, H. B. Marshall in 1921, and G. T. MacBryan in 1922, and some Brunei Malay words
Languages of Brunei Languages of Brunei There are a number of languages spoken in Brunei. The official language of the state of Brunei is Standard Malay, the same Malaccan dialect that is the basis for the standards in Malaysia and Indonesia. This came into force on 29 September 1959, with the signing of Brunei 1959 Constitution. Malay is specified as the national language of Brunei in the constitution of 1959, and its central role in the country is reinforced in the national MIB philosophy ("Melayu Islam Beraja", 'Malay Islamic Monarchy'). While the variety of Malay that functions as the national language is not