The thesis is contextualized in the theory and research surrounding bilingualism and second language learning. In particular it concerns attitude to language as a key construct in the explication of language policy within a country. Three chapters provide the background to the research of the thesis. The first two chapters concern the history of the language situation and of bilingual education in Malaysia and consider how Bahasa Malaysia has recently been accorded increasing status in order to foster national unity and integration. The third chapter reviews attitude theory and measurement as it relates to language, with consideration of the world-wide research into language attitudes. The thesis proceeds to report two investigations carried out at four Teacher's Colleges in Malaysia. The investigations aimed to identify the major dimensions of language attitudes using a questionnaire approach. In both investigations, a factor analysis revealed five very similar dimensions: (i) a general instrumental and integrative orientation towards the English language, (ii) parental encouragement towards the English language, (iii) students' anxiety, boredom and nervousness in learning the English language, (iv) students' attitudes towards the home xiv country, its values, culture and language and, (v) students' attitudes towards foreigners. The study also examined the relationship between these five factors and selected variables such as gender, age, ethnic and home language, college and religious affiliation and parental educational background. The variety of inter-relationship help to validate the factor scales and provide an innovative scenario of differences in attitude amongst various groups of Malaysian trainee-teachers.