Alexandra S. Chernykh

The article is focused on the problem of language shift in Malaysian minority communities. The studies conducted by both local and foreign researchers on endangerment and maintenance of minor ethnic languages in Malaysia has been reviewed. Native languages of minority communities were divided into groups based on the ethnicity of their speakers: indigenous, creole and idioms of the immigrants. As a result of the analysis of the language situation in each selected group, three directions of the language shift among their speakers were identified: into Malay, English and Mandarin Chinese. The data obtained from this study contributes to the information about the reasons for language shift, which put minor languages into disadvantageous positions in the modern world.