Interpersonal Communication Adaptation of Malaysian Students in Indonesia
Have you ever thought about speaking a language that is ‘almost the same’ as your own, yet it makes the person you are talking to raise an eyebrow in confusion? That is the reality for many Malaysian students studying in Indonesia, including myself. We are fluent in Malay and familiar with the Indonesian language, so communication should not be a major problem. However, behind the similarities lie small traps that often become sources of misunderstanding in daily life. This is nothing new for international students going to another country.
Every year, hundreds of Malaysian students continue their studies at various campuses in Indonesia, including Ibn Khaldun University (UIKA) Bogor. As discussed in various writings about the lives of overseas students, one of which is the article “Kehidupan Mahasiswa Luar Negeri: Kisah Bertahan Jauh dari Orang Tua” (Sekolapedia, 2026), the problems faced by international students are not only physical and financial, but also social and communication dimensions that are often overlooked. They bring academic hopes, and on the other hand, there are challenges here that are not visible from the outside, such as how to build a healthy relationship with a new culture if the communication skills they possess are not entirely ‘compatible’ with the local culture.
When “Same” Does Not Always Mean “Understood”
As you might guess, the Malaysian and Indonesian languages clearly come from the same family, but even those who have lived in two different cultures can see that the similarity is deceptive. Take the word “bisa” for example. For Indonesians, the word means able or can do something. However, for Malaysians, “bisa” is poison or snake venom. Imagine what would happen if you used it without a clear definition.
The most memorable experience for me was in the classroom, when I spoke with a Malaysian accent, “saye”, “kenape”, “kene”, “perbezaan”, and many more, local friends reacted differently. Some smiled and some looked confused for a moment before they understood. Not because they were unfriendly, but because their ears were not accustomed to the vowel sound “e” at the end of words that is common in Malaysian Malay pronunciation. What was very normal and natural for me seemed impossible and even funny to them.
It was the same in the dormitory, when I asked a friend to lend me “selipar”, they paused for a moment. It turned out they called them “sandal”. Likewise, when I said “jimat”, which they understood as “hemat” for “kain atau skirt”, they recognised it as “rok” for Muslim women’s clothing. I got into the habit of asking first, “What do you call this?” before using vocabulary I thought was common. This small habit turned out to be a very effective communication bridge.
There were also challenges outside the dormitory walls that I faced when I was invited by local friends to eat together. This is where my “impromptu dictionary” grew rapidly. Singkong, called “ubi kayu” in Malay, is called “singkong” in many other parts of the world. Nasi uduk, whose smell is very familiar, is very similar to nasi lemak in Malaysia, which is rice cooked with coconut milk and served with side dishes. Apam balik, my favourite snack in Malaysia, is also called “martabak manis” here. Karipap is now called “kue pastal”, vegetable fritters are called “bakwan”, and the spicy, savoury masak lemak cili api is called “gulai taboh”. Every time we ate together, I always went home with new food names to remember. However, more than just memorising names, those moments were actually the most natural for building closeness because food, everywhere, is always the most universal language.
Beyond vocabulary, speaking style has its own nuances. Malaysian students are usually accustomed to an accent and intonation that is considered “rough” to Indonesian ears, even though in the original culture it is spoken as it should be and does not pose a problem with words that would hurt anyone. In Indonesia, a more subtle and indirect way of speaking is also not easily understood by Malaysian students who are used to speaking directly to the point. Verbal and nonverbal communication styles, which are important in Interpersonal Communication courses and are a crucial part of message reception, are very much the reason for friction that sits above vocabulary differences.
This is where the problem of interpersonal communication becomes real. Interpersonal communication is not just about conveying words, but also about how the message is received in the listener’s ear, both verbally and nonverbally. Once there is a mismatch between what is meant and what is understood, that is what creates conflict or social distance, even though neither party has bad intentions. However, the problem is that such gaps are rarely visible until it is too late, even if seemingly harmless and normal jokes are misinterpreted and spoken too much in such a way that it becomes too much of a disturbance and requests for help are too direct.
Why the Core Matters More than Just a ‘Language Problem’
Some people might see vocabulary differences as a technical problem that can be solved with a dictionary or time. However, if we look deeper, this really matters in several ways regarding how we develop meaningful relationships with a new environment. This kind of phenomenon is nothing new in intercultural communication studies. Much research also shows that related language groups that are mutually intelligible do not guarantee smooth communication.