R. examines the functions of predicate-initial clauses in intransitive clauses in High and Low Malay. It is argued that these functions are quite different in High and Low Malay, a fact that can be related to a modernizing trend in Malay involving an increase of subject-initial clauses, and a decreasing use of focus particles and clause linking words. This trend is caused by the influence of Dutch, English, and modern Javanese, as well as a change in style from poetic to prose, and a shift from an oralto a written medium.