There are many historical references to the role of Malay as a lingua franca, dating back hundreds of years and perhaps further. There are also references in the literature to a reduced form of Malay termed Bazaar Malay (Bahasa Melayu Pasar). However, there has been little investigation of Bazaar Malay itself. Was it a trade jargon, a pidgin, a koiné, or simply a register or a colloquial variety of Malay? What was the precise form of language contact which gave rise to geographically dispersed varieties of Malay in locations such as Jakarta, Manado, Maluku and Nusatenggara?

This study examines the literature on the historical roles of Malay and Bazaar Malay, and traces the history of the language from available sources to show that Bazaar Malay has functioned as a low variety of the language in tandem with standard Malay. Phonological, morphological, lexical, and syntactic affinities among modern creolized varieties of Malay, including Betawi, Manado Malay, and Sri Lanka Creole Malay are cited to argue that modern colloquial Bahasa Indonesia is part of a continuum of reduced varieties of Malay which derive from Bazaar Malay. Reduced pronomial systems, use of punya to indicate possession, and simplified morphology are some of the shared characteristics of these varieties.