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Melanau–Kajang languages

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Melanau–Kajang
Central Sarawak
Geographic
distribution
Indonesia and Malaysia (Borneo)
Linguistic classificationAustronesian
Subdivisions
  • Kajang (Kayang)
  • Melanau
  • Punan–Müller-Schwaner
Language codes
Glottologsara1342

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

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Smith (2017)

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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.

Austroasiatic influence

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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

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  1. ^ Smith, Alexander. 2017. The Languages of Borneo: A Comprehensive Classification. PhD Dissertation: University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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)