Madurese (all from Java), Batak (Sumatra), Balinese (Bali), Tetun (Timor). The
languages of the Philippines (Tagalog, Ilocano, Visayan). The many non-Chinese
languages of Taiwan (like Amis, Atayal, Paiwan, Tsou). These languages are found
in Indo-China: Cham is spoken in Vietnam. It was the language of a pre-Vietnamese
Hindu Chamba Empire. The present speakers are Muslim. In the Pacific, languages
like Maori (New Zealand), Fijian, Tahitian, Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Chamorro
(Cham), and Hawaiian.
An interesting exception is Malagasy, which is spoken in Madagascar, a large
island off the coast of southern Africa. Its nearest linguistic relative is spoken in
Borneo. Over 1500 years ago, people from the islands of Indonesia migrated in boats
across the Indian Ocean to Madagascar. Here, they picked up African culture, but
their language gives away their origins.
These languages have fairly simple noun and verb forms. Malay has no
inflections for tense or case. Plurals are made by doubling the word (ANAK -child,
ANAK ANAK - children). This is called Reduplication and is commonly used to
enhance grammatical meanings. Passive forms of verbs are commonly used (let the
guide be followed rather than follow the guide).
Javanese has a special vocabulary used to and by chiefs. Some peoples have
secret languages used only by certain trades, like fishermen and miners. Balinese has
three formal registers. The word eat is NAAR in the lowest formality, NEDA in the
middle formality, NGADJENGANG in the most formal. In Cham, men and women's
speech differs.
The possessive pronouns (my / our) are more complex than, the noun forms
and have differing forms depending on the item possessed. In some of the Pacific
languages, the possessive pronouns have a form for alienable possession (something
that is possessed temporarily like a car or book), and a form for inalienable
Do'stlaringiz bilan baham: |