Austronesian language spoken in Malaysia and Brunei
Melanau is an Austronesian language spoken in the coastal area of the Rajang delta on northwest Borneo, Sarawak , Malaysia and Brunei . There are several dialects—Mukah-Oya, Balingian, Bruit, Dalat, Lawas, Igan, Sarikei, Segahan, Prehan, Segalang, and Siteng.[ 2]
Phonology
Consonants
Melanau has the following consonants.[ 3]
Vowels
Melanau has the following vowels.[ 3]
Sounds /i a u ɔ/ can have allophones of [ɪ æ ʌ ʊ ɒ [ 4]
Orthography
Vowels and diphthongs
a – [a]
aa – [aː]
e – [ɛ/ə]
i – [i]
o – [ɔ]
u – [u]
ai – [ai]
au – [au]
ei – [ei]
ou – [ou]
ui – [ui]
Consonants
b – [b]
c – [t͡ʃ]
d – [d]
g – [g]
h – [h, ɦ]
j – [d͡ʒ]
k – [k]
l – [l]
m – [m]
n – [n]
ng – [ŋ]
ny – [ɲ]
p – [p]
r – [r/ʀ]
s – [s]
t – [t]
w – [w]
y – [j] [ 5]
Notes
References
I.F.C.S. Clayre. 1970. "The Spelling of Melanau (nee Milano)," The Sarawak Museum Journal 18:330-352.
Clayre, Iain F. C. S. 1972. A grammatical description of Melanau. University of Edinburgh.
Rensch, Calvin R. 2012. Melanau and the Languages of Central Sarawak
External links
