Champion of Endangered Voices
- UM Research
- Dec 8
- 5 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Prof. Dr. Stefanie Shamila Pillai
Department of English Language, Faculty of Languages and Linguistics
Area of Expertise:
Languages & Linguistics > Endangered Languages > Melaka Portuguese
A Mantra of Resilience and Purpose
“Fall seven times, get up eight.” This Japanese proverb is a mantra that resonates deeply with Professor Dr. Stefanie Shamila Pillai, FASc (Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia), whose career reflects resilience, conviction, and a fierce commitment to language, culture, and community. Currently a Professor at the English Language Department in the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, Universiti Malaya, and a Senate Representative on UM’s Board of Directors, Professor Dr. Stefanie Shamila Pillai has left an indelible mark not only as an academic but as a leader who has shaped language scholarship and community engagement in Malaysia.
Leading with Vision and Impact
Over the years, she has held significant leadership positions, including Dean of the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, Deputy Dean (Postgraduate), Dean of the Social Advancement and Happiness Research Cluster, and Deputy and later Director of the Centre for Industrial Training & Industrial Relations (CITRA), which transformed into the Centre for Industry & Community Engagement. In these roles, she championed stronger collaboration between academia, industry, and communities, believing firmly that language and education must remain relevant to the people they serve.
A Journey Forged Through Education and Determination
Her academic journey reflects both international exposure and remarkable determination. Awarded a government scholarship, she spent six years in the United Kingdom completing her matriculation and a Bachelor of Education in TESL at Christ Church College, University of Kent. On returning to Malaysia, she pursued her master's degree at Universiti Malaya while balancing her responsibilities as a language teacher at that time. She later earned her PhD in Speech Disfluencies at Universiti Malaya under the supervision of Professor Dr. Kamila Ghazali, during which time she was awarded a Commonwealth Split-Site Scholarship enabling her to conduct part of her doctoral research at the University of Newcastle, UK, under the guidance of Professor Gerry Docherty.
Prof. Dr. Stefanie Shamila Pillai was the first Malaysian to digitally document a language in the Endangered Languages Archive with her work on Melaka Portuguese.
Advancing Research on Language, Culture and Identity
Professor Dr. Stefanie Shamila Pillai’s research expertise spans phonetics, endangered language documentation, and the use of language in multilingual contexts. Her groundbreaking work has included studies of Malaysian English and Melaka Portuguese, among others. She was the first Malaysian to digitally document a language in the Endangered Languages Archive with her work on Melaka Portuguese, a pioneering achievement that preserves invaluable linguistic heritage for future generations. Her role as consultant for Malaysian English entries in the Oxford English Dictionary highlights her authority in the field, while her development of the Melaka Portuguese–English Dictionary mobile app and production of community-based learning materials such as a mobile app, a textbook, a CD and micro-economy models demonstrate her commitment to ensuring research outcomes translate into tangible resources for the communities that need them most. In recognition of her outstanding contributions to linguistics and language documentation, Professor Dr. Stefanie Shamila Pillai was honoured with the 2024 Top Research Scientist Award by the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM).
Mentorship, Empowerment, and Capacity Building
Her dedication to mentorship and capacity building is equally impressive. She has led programs designed to strengthen the skills of academic leaders and early career researchers, mentored participants in the Asia Pacific Women in Leadership programme, the Malaysian International Deans Course, and Early Career Researchers’ programmes. These initiatives reflect her firm belief in nurturing future generations of researchers, scholars and leaders. Her ability to secure key international grants has expanded the impact of her work, including funding from the Endangered Language Documentation Programme, the Newton–Ungku Omar Fund for capacity building in language documentation, and the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) grant for training and mentoring researchers across faculties.
Bridging Academia, Industry, and Communities
Professor Dr. Stefanie Shamila Pillai’s influence extends well beyond academia into industry, government, and community collaborations. She has worked closely with the Jabatan Kebudayaan dan Kesenian Negara (JKKN), Melaka, and the Melaka Portuguese-Eurasian Association in developing revitalisation activities and materials that reconnect communities with their linguistic and cultural roots. Her public engagement has been dynamic and impactful: she has delivered a TEDx talk on endangered languages, given interviews with international media outlets including Al-Jazeera and CNA, and curated a month-long exhibition on indigenous languages and cultures at Universiti Malaya. She is a frequent keynote speaker, invited panelist, and contributor to policy discussions with cultural and linguistic organisations, consistently raising awareness of the urgent need to preserve minority and heritage languages.
Rooted in Heritage, Driven by Values
The inspiration for her work is rooted in her own heritage links to the Melaka Portuguese community, and her core values such as humility, kindness, and openness to learning that guide every aspect of her professional and personal journey. Yet, her work has not been without challenges. She has had to confront the realities of language shift among younger generations in minority communities, grapple with limited funding for documentation and revitalisation initiatives, and navigate attitudinal barriers that often devalue heritage language use and preservation. Despite these obstacles, her perseverance continues to drive meaningful progress.
Looking Ahead: A Legacy in Motion
As she looks ahead to her planned retirement in February 2026, Professor Dr. Stefanie Shamila Pillai shows no signs of slowing down. She intends to focus on developing sustainable youth engagement models for language preservation, while continuing to mentor researchers and contribute to scholarship in language documentation and multilingualism. Her future direction reflects the same determination that has guided her entire career: to ensure that linguistic heritage remains a living, breathing part of society rather than a relic of the past.
Fierce Spirit, Enduring Legacy
Her story is not only one of academic excellence but also of fierce dedication to the preservation of cultural identity through language. Quoting Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, she often reminds herself and others, “Though she be little, she is fierce,” a line that perfectly encapsulates her spirit. And with her favourite Japanese proverb always close at heart, “Fall down seven times, get up eight”, Professor Dr. Stefanie Shamila Pillai, FASc stands as a beacon of resilience, leadership, and inspiration, proving that the power of language lies not only in words but in the ability to unite, preserve, and empower.
#Linguistics #LanguageDocumentation #EndangeredLanguages #MinorityLanguages #Multilingualism #PhoneticsResearch #MalaysianEnglish #MelakaPortuguese #HeritageLanguages #CulturalPreservation #HeritageRevitalisation #CulturalSustainability #IndigenousLanguages #LivingHeritage #CommunityEmpowerment #ResearchWithImpact #UMResearchers #UniversitiMalaya #ScienceCommunication #TEDxSpeaker #LanguageAwareness
Researcher featured:
Prof. Dr. Stefanie Shamila Pillai FASc
Department of English Language
Faculty of Languages and Linguistics
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Author:
Ms Puungkodi Paramasivam
Puungkodi Paramasivam is a fast-track PhD candidate at the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, Universiti Malaya, who finds solace and purpose in writing amidst the challenges of academic research. This is her third contribution to the UM Research Bulletin, a platform she values for showcasing groundbreaking work while allowing her to channel her creativity. Writing, she says, serves as a positive distraction from the demands of her PhD journey, enabling her to engage meaningfully with diverse fields of study. Proud to be an author under the UM Research Bulletin, Puungkodi continues to highlight innovative research and inspire others with her thoughtful narratives.
Copyedit:
Siti Farhana Bajunid Shakeeb Arsalaan Bajunid, Assistant Registrar, UM
Truly inspiring work highlighting the importance of protecting endangered voices. Your dedication reminds us that every effort counts. As a credentialing agency for physicians that often emphasizes advocacy and support, your mission echoes the same commitment to preserving vital voices.