Dusun language

Phonology

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⟩.

Orthography

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.

Grammar

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

(1)

Ika

You(emph)

i

[personal]

Kinomulok?

Kinomulok

Are you Kinomulok?

I

[personal]

Kinomulok

Kinomulok

oku

I

I am Kinomulok.

(2)

Isai

Who

ko?

you(non-emph)

Who are you?

I

[personal]

Tolimu

Batholomew

oku

I

I am Bartholomew.

(3)

Ika

You

mongoi.

go

You go.

Sentence structure

A typical Dusun sentence is VSO.

Poposidang

dry

oku

I

parai.

rice

I dry rice.

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

Oinsanan

all

tangaanak

children

sikul

school

nonuan

given

do uniform.

uniform

All students have been given uniforms.

Vocabulary

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

tolu

three

no

already

hopod

ten

thirty

Separate units are combined with om.

soriong

1000

om

and

turu

seven

no

already

hatus

100

om

and

duo

two

no

already

hopod

ten

om

and

siam

nine

one thousand, seven hundred and twenty nine

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.

Dialects

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.

Sample prayers

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.