The existence of Buginese ethnic in West Kalimantan since 1667, when Bungayya
Agreement took place, then, in the end of 1946 early 1947 the mass murder occurred (40,000
victims), the last, in 1950 rebellion of DII / TII led by Kahar Muzakkar happened. The
interesting thing about the Buginese ethnic is their ability to adapt to the Malay environment.
They are trying to master the Malay language and use it in everyday communication. The use of
the Malay language in communication caused some people have two identities namely Buginese
and Malay. Moreover among them stated they are already a Buginese Malay descent.
The data collected by field observation, interview, and secondary data collection with
critical analysis of social history and culture. The data analyzed by describing the data related
with Buginese arrival, and their interaction pola with society of Malay of West Kalimantan. The
result show that the use of Malay language in communication caused a number of Buginese has
two identities, as Malay and Buginese people, and the rest are Malay-Buginese descendant.
Keywords; Malay language, Buginese, communication