So, the Malays at the time named locations after peculiar features of the environment, animals, vegetation, and beliefs or occurrences related to Malay myths and legends.
The following examples are to illustrate (meanings of names are of direct translation):
1. Locations named after estuaries (Kuala):
| Kuala Lumpur | muddy estuary |
| Kuala Kangsar | estuary where bebaru trees are |
| Kuala Lipis | estuary with pulsating water |
| Kuala Bertam | estuary where bertam palm are |
| Kuala Lukut | estuary where lukut trees are |
| Kuala Muda | young estuary |
| Kuala Tasek | estuary of a lake |
| Kuala Sawah | estuary with a paddy field |
| Kuala Pilah | estuary where pilah trees are |
| (Kampung) Kuala Dingin | estuary of Dingin river, which water is cold |
| (Kampung) Kuala Ayer Putih | estuary of “white” (clear?) water |
| (Kampung) Kuala Kijang | estuary where deers are found |
| (Kampung) Kuala Tawar | estuary of Tawar river, which water is tasteless |
| (Kampung) Kuala Melaka | estuary where melaka trees are |
2. Locations named after water (Air/Ayer):
| Air Meleleh | dripping water |
| Air Kuning | yellow water |
| Air Hitam | blackish water |
| Air Terjun | waterfalls |
| Air Keruh | murky water |
| Ayer Panas | hot water |
| Ayer Sejuk | cold water |
| Ayer Punggai | water where punggai plants are |
| (Kampung) Ayer Kangkong | water with waterplants |
| (Kampung) Anak Ayer Manggis | spring of Manggis River |
| (Kampung) Ayer Limau | water with lemon trees |
| (Kampung) Ayer Lanjut | long/prolong/old river |
| (Kampung) Ayer Molek | pretty water |
| (Kampung) Ayer Dalam | deep water |
| (Kampung) Ayer Pasir | sandy water |
| (Kampung) Ayer Perah | wrung water |
| (Kampung) Ayer Resam | custom/norm or a type of fern |
3. Locations named after rock/stone (Batu):
| Batu Pahat | chiseled rock |
| Batu Belah | spilt rock |
| Batu Bertangkup | unturned rock |
| Batu Feringgi | Portuguese rock |
| Batu Besar | large/big rock |
| (Kampung) Batu Buaya | rock where crocodiles are found |
| (Kampung) Batu Hampar | spread out/lay out flat rock |
| (Kampung) Batu Itam | blackish rock |
| (Kampung) Batu Maung | rock with very bitter smell/taste |
| (Kampung) Batu Ayer Putih | rock with “white” (clear?) water |
| (Kampung) Batu Lintang | crosswise rock |
| (Kampung) Batu Seketul | a one-piece rock |
| (Kampung) Batu Putih | white rock |
4. Locations named after river (Sungai):
| Sungai Manik | river which water appears bead-like |
| Sungai Mentiga | a river which divides into three |
| Sungai Siput | river with snails |
| Sungai Lesu | river with fatigue/listless water |
| Sungai Besi | river with iron-ore |
| Sungai Dua | two rivers |
| Sungai Durian | river with Durian tree |
| Sungai Keladi | river where yam plants |
| Sungai Selut | river with thick mud |
| (Kampung) Sungai Mati | dead river |
| (Kampung) Sungai Serai | river with lemongrass plants |
| (Kampung) Sungai Buloh | river with bamboo trees |
| (Kampung) Sungai Belati | river which looks like a small knife (narrow and long) |
| (Kampung) Sungai Jernih | clear waters |
| (Kampung) Sungai Baru | new river |
5. Locations named after land/earth (Tanah):
| Tanah Rata | where the land flat/level |
| Tanah Merah | where the earth is red |
| Tanah Tinggi | high/elevated land |
| Tanah Datar | flat/plain/horizontal land |
| Tanah Baru | newly-opened land |
| Tanah Melintang | crosswise land |
6. Locations named after fort (Kota):
| Kota Bahru/Bharu/Baharu | the new fort |
| Kota Lama | the old fort |
| Kota Tinggi | high/elevated fort |
| Kota Raja | king’s fort |
| Kota Kapor | of Kapor trees or where kapor trees are found |
| (Kampung) Kota Aur | of Aur trees or where aur trees are found |
| (Kampung) Kota Bukit | the fort on the hill |
| (Kampung) Kota Mengkuang | of Mengkuang plants or where mengkuang trees are found |
| (Kampung) Kota Rentang | the fort which stretches across |
7. Locations named after trees:
| (Kampung) Kepayang | where kepayang trees are |
| (Kampung) Ru | where casuarinas are |
| (Kampung) Serai | where lemongrass plants are |
| (Kampung) Durian Tunggal | where there is only one durian tree |
| (Kampung) Merlimau | where there are lemon trees |
| (Kampung) Bakau Tinggi | where there are mangrove trees |
| (Kampung) Binjai | where there are binjai trees |
| (Kampung) Nipah | where there are nipah palm trees |
| (Kampung) Meranti | where there are meranti trees |
| (Kampung) Nyatuh | where there are nyatuh trees |
| (Kampung) Nibong | where there are nibong trees |
| (Kampung) Nangka | where there are jackfruit trees |
| (Kampung) Kundar | where there are kundar/kundor trees |
| (Kampung) Tualang | where there are tualang trees |
| (Kampung) Sago | where there are sago trees |
| (Kampung) Pokok Asam | where there are tamarind trees |
| (Kampung) Pokok Sena | where there are angsana trees |
8. Locations named after animals:
| Alur Gajah | elephant’s channel |
| Kepala Gajah | appears to look like an elephant’s head |
| Pulau Ketam | island of crabs |
| (Kampung) Tekukur | of cuckoo birds |
| (Kampung) Buaya | of crocodiles |
| (Kampung) Kelawar | of bats |
| (Kampung) Lubok Itek | where ducks’ deep hollow can be found |
| (Kampung) Lubok Puyu | where puyu‘s deep hollow can be found |
| (Kampung) Landak | of porcupine/hedgehog |
| (Kampung) Lang Merah | of red eagle |
| (Kampung) Kubang Siput | where snails’ mud-hole can be found |
| (Kampung) Kubang Sapi | where cows’ mud-hole can be found |
| (Kampung) Kubang Beruang | where bears’ mud-hole can be found |
| (Kampung) Kijang | of deer |
| (Kampung) Tanjung Semut | of ants |
| (Kampung) Sanglang | of eagles |
| (Kampung) Anak Gajah | of baby/small elephants |
| (Kampung) Kuala Rimau | where tigers can be found |
9. Locations named after promontory/cape (Tanjung/Tanjong):
| Tanjung Rambutan | where rambutan trees are found |
| Tanjung Pinang | where areca palm trees are found |
| Tanjung Periok | which looks like a cooking pot |
| Tanjung Ru | where casuarinas are found |
| Tanjung Agas | where sandflies are found |
| Tanjung Petai | where petai trees are found |
| Tanjung Beringin | where beringin trees are found |
| Tanjung Bachang | Where bachang trees are found |
| Tanjung Berangan | where berangan trees are found |
| Tanjung Ipoh | where ipoh trees are found |
| Tanjung Jati | where jati trees are found |
| (Kampung) Tanjung Puteri | princess’ promontory |
| (Kampung) Tanjung Musang | where civet cats are found |
| (Kampung) Tanjung Putus | which were separated from the mainland |
| (Kampung) Tanjung Pisang | where banana trees are found |
| (Kampung) Tanjung Besar | a large promontory |
| (Kampung) Tanjung Pari | where stingrays are found |
10. Locations named after hills (Bukit):
| Bukit Tinggi | a tall hill |
| Bukit Mertajam | a pointed hill |
| Bukit Permai | a pretty/peaceful hill |
| Bukit Batuk | a “coughing” hill |
| Balik Bukit | the other side of the hill |
| Bukit Gelugor | where gelugor trees are found |
| Bukit Gemuruh | a “moaning” hill |
| (Kampung) Bukit China | Chinese hill |
| (Kampung) Bukit Gasing | which looks like spinning top |
| (Kampung) Bukit Badak | where rhinoceroses are found |
| (Kampung) Bukit Lada | where pepper plants are found |
| (Kampung) Bukit Hantu | a haunted hill |
| (Kampung) Kaki Bukit | at the foothill |
| (Kampung) Bukit Kijang | where deer are found |
| (Kampung) Bukit Minyak | where oil is found |
| (Kampung) Bukit Merah | of red earth |
11. Locations named after canals (Parit):
| Parit Lintang | a crosswise canal |
| Parit Mawas | where apes are found |
| Parit Paya Lebar | wide and swampy canal |
| Parit Pasir | sandy canal |
| Parit Lanjut | long/old canal |
| Parit Kancil | where mousedeer are found |
| Parit Jawa | canal belonging to the Javanese |
| Parit Jepun | canal belonging to the Japanese |
| Parit Bunga | where there are a lot of flowers |
| Parit Besar | large canal |
| Parit Betung | where betung bamboo trees are found |
| Parit Belukar | where shrub/bush is found |
| Parit Bengkok | bent canal |
12. Locations named after wells/shaft dugged or drilled (telaga):
| (Kampung) Telaga Tujuh | the seven wells |
| (Kampung) Telaga Bijih | iron-ore mine |
| (Kampung) Telaga Gayong | which looks like a dipper |
| (Kampung) Telaga Air | water well |
| (Kampung) Telaga Mas | a gold mine |
| (Kampung) Telaga Bata | a well made of bricks |
| (Kampung) Telaga Batu | a well made of rocks |
| (Kampung) Telaga China | belonging to the Chinese |
13. Locations named after gulfs/deep hollows (Lubuk/Lubok):
| (Kampung) Lubok Nibong | where nibong trees are |
| (Kampung) Lubok Puyu | puyu’s deep hollow |
| (Kampung) Lubok Dalam | a deep deep-hollow |
| (Kampung) Lubok Bunut | bunut‘s deep hollow |
| (Kampung) Lubok Tapah | tapah‘s deep hollow |
| (Kampung) Lubok Macang | where macang trees are |
| (Kampung) Lubok Batu | deep hollow filled with rocks |
| (Kampung) Lubok Buaya | crocodiles’ deep hollow |
| (Kampung) Lubok Gajah | elephants’ deep hollow |
| (Kampung) Lubok Kawah | which looks like a crater |
| (Kampung) Lubok Saga | where saga trees are |
| (Kampung) Lubok Ular | snakes’ deep hollow |
| (Kampung) Lubok Labi | turtles’ deep hollow |
14. Locations named after bays (Teluk/Telok):
| Teluk Intan | Intan’s bay (a person) |
| (Kampung) Teluk Bayu | breezy bay |
| (Kampung) Teluk Jambu | where water apples are |
| (Kampung) Teluk Kacang | where nut plants are |
| (Kampung) Teluk Ayer Tawar | bay of tasteless water |
| (Kampung) Teluk Durian | where durian trees are |
| (Kampung) Teluk Keluang | where flying-foxes are |
| (Kampung) Teluk Layang | where kites are |
| (Kampung) Teluk Nibong | where nibong trees are |
| (Kampung) Teluk Sisek | which soil looks like scales of fish |
| (Kampung) Teluk Gelam | where gelam (the tree or heron) are |
Analysis
From the list above, we can see that most of the locations are named after their geographical features, such as estuaries, rocks/stones, promontories, canals, bays and deep hollow. In addition to their geographical features, most of these locations are also named after vegetation or animals, as we can see above. Also evident are places named after beliefs or occurrences related to Malay myths and legends, such as (Kampung) Ayer Perah (wrung water), (Kampung) Ayer Molek (pretty water), Batu Belah (spilt rock), (Kampung) Batu Buaya (rock where crocodiles are found), Kepala Gajah (appears to look like an elephant’s head), (Kampung), Bukit Batuk (a “coughing” hill), (Kampung) Bukit Hantu (a haunted hill), Bukit Gemuruh (a hill which moans), and (Kampung) Telaga Tujuh (the seven wells). Other than that, there are places named after a person/people, such as Teluk Intan (Intan’s bay), (Kampung) Telaga China (belonging to the Chinese), Parit Jawa (canal belonging to the Javanese), Parit Jepun (canal belonging to the Japanese), (Kampung) Bukit China (Chinese hill), (Kampung) Tanjung Puteri (princess’ promontory), Kota Raja (king’s fort) and Batu Feringgi (Portuguese rock).
References:
Tham Seong Chee. (1990). A Study of the Evolution of the Malay Language: Social Change and Cognitive Development. Singapore: Singapore University Press.
Hawkins, J.M. (2006). Kamus Dwibahasa Oxford Fajar: Inggeris-Melayu/Melayu-Inggeris (4th Ed.). Kuala Lumpur: Oxford Fajar.
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