Melanau–Kajang languages
From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia
Melanau–Kajang | |
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Central Sarawak | |
Geographic distribution | Indonesia and Malaysia (Borneo) |
Linguistic classification | Austronesian
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Subdivisions |
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Language codes | |
Glottolog | sara1342 |
The Melanau–Kajang languages or Central Sarawak languages are a group of languages spoken in Kalimantan, Indonesia and Sarawak, Malaysia by the Kenyah, Melanau and related peoples.
Classification
[edit]Smith (2017)
[edit]Smith (2017)[1] uses the term Central Sarawak, and puts it as an independent branch within the Greater North Borneo subgroup. He classifies the languages as follows.
- Melanau (Dalat, Sarikei, Mukah, Balingian, Matu, Sibu, Kanowit)
- Kajang (Kejaman, Sekapan, Lahanan)
- Punan–Müller-Schwaner
Austroasiatic influence
[edit]Kaufman (2018) notes that many Proto-Central Sarawak words (Smith 2017) are of likely Austroasiatic origin, including the following (Note: The Austroasiatic branch reconstructions are from Paul Sidwell's reconstructions; Proto-Pearic is from Headley (1985)[2]).[3]
- *siaw ‘chicken’ (cf. Proto-Khasic *sʔiar; Proto-Khmuic *(s)ʔiər)
- *tilaŋ ‘tiger leech’ (cf. Proto-Katuic *ɟləəŋ)
- *(ə)liŋ ‘saliva’
Proto-Kajang words of likely Austroasiatic origin:
- *diə̯k ‘chicken’ (cf. Proto-Pearic *hlɛːk)
- *(u)bəl ‘mute’ (cf. Proto-Bahnaric *kmlɔː)
Proto-Müller-Schwaner words of likely Austroasiatic origin:
- *ənap ‘fish scale’
References
[edit]- ^ Smith, Alexander. 2017. The Languages of Borneo: A Comprehensive Classification. PhD Dissertation: University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.
- ^ Headley, Robert K. 1985. "Proto-Pearic and the classification of Pearic." In Suriya Ratanakult et al. (eds.), Southeast Asian Linguistic Studies Presented to Andre-G. Haudricourt. Institute of Language and Culture for Rural Development, Mahidol University. pp. 428-478.
- ^ Kaufman, Daniel. 2018. Between mainland and island Southeast Asia: Evidence for a Mon-Khmer presence in Borneo. Ronald and Janette Gatty Lecture Series. Kahin Center for Advanced Research on Southeast Asia, Cornell University. (handout / slides)
- Rensch, Calvin R. 2012. Melanau and the Languages of Central Sarawak. SIL Electronic Survey Report. SIL International.