Malay people

Malays (Dutch, Malayo, ultimately from Malay: Melayu) are a diverse group of people living in the Malay archipelago and Malay peninsula in South East Asia.

Related Topics:
Dutch - Malay - Malay archipelago - Malay peninsula - South East Asia

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They constitute the dominant ethnic group which live in Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, the Philippines and East Timor, which together with Singapore and the southernmost part of Thailand (Patani) make up what is called the Malay archipelago.

Related Topics:
Malaysia - Indonesia - Brunei - Philippines - East Timor - Singapore - Patani - Malay archipelago

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The Malays are traditionally classified as a member of the Mongoloid race, along with other Asiatic peoples, including Chinese, Mongols, Japanese, Koreans, Thais, Vietnamese and Bamar.

Related Topics:
Mongoloid - Chinese - Mongol - Japanese - Koreans - Thai - Vietnamese - Bamar

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Malays are also linguistically related to the Polynesian and Micronesian groups of the mid-Pacific, as members of the wide ranging Austronesian family of languages. Evidence also suggests that Polynesians and Micronesians may be descended - at least in part - from seafaring ancestors that originated in and around the Malay racial stock stronghold. Malay peoples have black hair and are typically of darker skin complexions, usually dark brown.

Related Topics:
Polynesian - Micronesian - Mid-Pacific - Austronesian

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