Gorontalo Malay

Gorontalo Malay, also known as Gorontalo Indonesian, in Gorontalo language it is called Mobisala Molayu, is a Malay-based creole language spoken by the majority of the Gorontalo people in the Minahasa Peninsula region, especially in Gorontalo, as well as in Buol Regency, Central Sulawesi.

Based on its grammatical characteristics, Gorontalo Malay is classified as Malay trade and creole languages. In general, the Gorontalo Malay functions as lingua franca in Gorontalo and the surrounding area, including several areas in the northern part of Tomini Bay which are also inhabited by the Gorontalo people.

The influence of Arabic language is very visible in Gorontalo Malay. This can be seen from several Arabic vocabularies that have been absorbed into Gorontalo Malay, for example the word ana أنا as the first person singular pronoun (me), and ente أنت as the second person singular pronoun (you).

History
Gorontalo Malay initially developed in the coastal region of Gorontalo, especially in port cities, then gained influence from languages of Arabic, Dutch, Ternate Malay, and was mainly based on Manado Malay, and Gorontalo language as mother tongue of the people. Gorontalo Malay also has several similarities with Ternate Malay in terms of vocabulary and grammar, something that is also found in other Eastern Indonesia Malay varieties. One of the differences between Gorontalo Malay and other Eastern Indonesia Malay languages is the pronunciation intonation used, this is very influenced by the Gorontalo language.

Pronouns
Gorontalo Malay has pronouns which are mainly based on Manadoic Malay languages (Manado Malay and Ternate Malay).

Personal pronouns
There are several foreign language borrowings of personal pronouns in Gorontalo Malay, especially from Arabic language.

Possessive pronouns
Gorontalo Malay uses the parenthetical word pe to express ownership.

Phonology
In some verbs and nouns in standard Malay that use the letter [ ə ], there is a change in the pronunciation of vowel phonemes which is influenced by speech in Gorontalo language, so in Gorontalo Malay the pronunciation will change to the letter [o], for example bolajar 'belajar' (study), posawat 'pesawat' (aircraft), moncuci 'mencuci' (wash), and also has an influence on the pronunciation of the word "Melayu" (Malay) itself as Molayu.