[perlancar3]

Malay and Indonesian language are like British and American English, except with far more difference in vocabulary and far more false cognates. Although not nearly as different as, say, Portuguese and Spanish.

Yes, a typical Malaysian or Singaporean (especially if he has native or near native Malay language skill) will be able to order food at restaurants, buy stuffs, ask for directions, and even converse with an Indonesian speaker, albeit with awkwardness every so often. But for serious or technical discussion, the conversers might as well switch to English for better communication, even if they both only have moderate level of English.

[singingfish]

Yeah malay does my head in (I speak ok Behasa Baku, and I can usually make sense of dialecty Behasa Indonesia). However with malay it's like you can be having a totally intelligible conversation, except every 7th word you say is entirely wrong.