Dusun language

What is termed as Central Dusun (or simply Dusun) and Coastal Kadazan (or simply Kadazan) are deemed to be highly mutually intelligible to one other; many consider these to be part of a single language.

The language was among many other Sabahan vernacular languages suppressed under Mustapha Harun's assimilationist enforcement of Bahasa Malaysia across the state. Under the efforts of the Kadazandusun Cultural Association Sabah, in 1995, the central Bundu-Liwan dialect was selected to serve as the basis for a standardised "Kadazandusun" language. This dialect, spoken in the Bundu and Liwan valleys of the Crocker-Trusmadi ranges (now parts of the present-day districts of Ranau, Tambunan and Keningau), was selected as it was deemed to be the most mutually intelligible when conversing with other "Dusun" or "Kadazan" dialects.

The phonemes in Central Dusun and Coastal Kadazan are as follows:

Consonants

Robinson specifies that /r/ in Tindal Dusun is a flap.

occurs as an allophone of in word-medial position.

Tangit and MBDK note that Coastal Kadazan consonants correspond to the following consonants found in other varieties:

Vowels

Kadazandusun is usually said to have four vowels /a i u o/. According to Tingit, /o/ in Central Dusun is less rounded [o̜, ɤ] than in Coastal Kadazan and is sometimes represented with ⟨e⟩.

Dusun is written using the Latin alphabet using 21 characters (the letters C, E, F, Q, and X are used in loanwords):

A B D G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y Z

These characters together are called Pimato.

Diphthongs: ⟨aa⟩ ⟨ai⟩ (sometimes pronounced) ⟨ii⟩ ⟨oi⟩ ⟨uu⟩

Some combinations of vowels do not form diphthongs and each vowel retains its separate sound: ⟨ao⟩ ⟨ia⟩ ⟨iu⟩ ⟨ui⟩ ⟨ue⟩. In some words ⟨aa⟩ is not a diphthong, and this is indicated by an apostrophe between the two vowels: a'a.

Personal pronouns

Tindal Dusun has a Philippine-type focus system of syntax that makes one particular noun phrase in a sentence the most prominent. The prominent or focused noun (or noun phrase) is not necessarily the subject or the agent. In clauses with pronouns, both the pronoun as well as the verbal morphology carry indication of focus. If the verbal morphology carries actor-focus, the clause's actor will be a nominative pronoun - or rarely an emphatic pronoun. Any other noun phrase in the clause must take pronouns from a different set, as only one noun phrase can be the focus of a clause.

"The "emphatic" pronouns are used alone or preposedly, either as answers or to stress the pronoun.

Examples

Sentence structure

A typical Dusun sentence is VSO.

It is, however, possible for a grammatically correct Dusun sentence to be SVO.

To form numbers such as fifty or sixty, a multiplier is combined with a positional unit (tens, hundreds, thousands etc.), using no.

Separate units are combined with om.

The Dusun name of the months derive from the traditional cycle of paddy harvesting.

The names for the days of the week are mostly based on a simple numerical sequence, which is commonly used for media and newspapers. The names of Dusun days as part of the seven-day week derive from the life cycle of a butterfly.

Central Dusun is divided into four main dialect groups:

• Liwanic: Liwan, Inobong Dusun, Tuhawon
• Bunduic: Bundu, Sinulihan, Tagahas, Manggatal Dusun
• Tindalic: Tindal-Kiau-Tempasuk, Luba-Tonduk-Gobukon
• Ulu Sugut Dusun: Tinagas, Lingkabau, Talantang

Central Dusun dialects are mostly mutually intelligible when conversing.

Our Father

Tama dahai id surga, apantang daa o ngaran nu, korikot noh daa kopomorintaan nu, nadadi noh kaandak nu hiti'd tana miagal hilo'd surga, tahako dahai tadau diti ie takanon dahai tikid tadau, om poliongo noh douso dahai miagal nogi'd poliongo dahai id sontob pinokumaus dahai. Om kada pologoso yahai id koimbayatan, nga palapaso dahai noh do mantad kaaratan. Amin.

Translation:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary

Ave Maria, noponu noh grasia, miampai diya Kinorohingan, obitua kou do'd sawi-awi tondu, om obitua tuwa' tinan nu, Yesus. Sangti Maria, tama kinorohingan, insiano yahai/ikoi tulun mominidouso, do baino om ontok jaam kapataion ya. Amin.

Translation:

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.