Komering language explained

Komering
Nativename:Basa Kumoring
باس كوموريڠ
Pronunciation:in Indonesian pronounced as /baˈsa ku.mo.ɣiŋ/
States:Indonesia
Region:South Sumatra
Ethnicity:Komering
Date:2000 census
Ref:e18
Familycolor:Austronesian
Fam2:Malayo-Polynesian
Fam3:Lampungic
Script:Lampung (historical, mainly for Komering Hulu dialect)
Latin (present and majority)
Komering (present and minority, mainly for Komering Ilir dialect)
Jawi (present and minority)
Iso3:kge
Glotto:kome1238
Glottorefname:Komering
Notice:IPA

Komering is a Lampungic language spoken by the Komering people, an indigenous ethnic group native to Komering regions alongside the Komering River in South Sumatra, Indonesia.

Location

Komering is spoken in Lampung Province and South Sumatra Province in southern Sumatra, along the Komering River.

Classification

The Komering language belongs to the Lampungic branch, which is a subgroup within the Austronesian family.[1] [2]

Phonology

Consonants

LabialAlveolarPalatalVelarGlottal
Nasalpronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/
Plosive/
Affricate
voicelesspronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/
voicedpronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/
Fricativepronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/
Lateralpronounced as /ink/
Trillpronounced as /ink/
Approximantpronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/
A voiced fricative pronounced as /link/ also occurs, but only as a result of foreign loanwords.

Vowels

FrontCentralBack
Closepronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/
Midpronounced as /ink/
Openpronounced as /ink/

Vocabulary

Examples of basic Komering words:[3]

Komering (standard) Meaning
Kayu Tree
Habu Ashes
Tanoh World
Jukuk Grass
Hatolui Egg
Tolu Three
Hujan Rain
Hambur To Steal
Tohlui Egg
Pak Four
Ganta Now
Ompai New
Sisu Chicken
Manuk Bird
Bunga Flower
Punti Banana
Punti Kayu Papaya
Halimawong Tiger
Iwak Fish
Turui Sleep
Batangari River

Alphabet

Currently, Komering uses Latin as the general writing system, but there are also a small number of people who still use Jawi Arabic letters. The Komering script was used in ancient times, now there are efforts to preserve this script again.

Sample Text

Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1

/kaʔuɲin d͡ʒolma tilaˈhiɣko maɣdeka ɣiʔ uwat piʔil ɣiʔ haʔ-haʔ saɪ ɡoh-ɡoh. tijan tiʔund͡ʒuʔ akal pikiˈɣan ɣiʔ hati nuɣani maɣi tijan dapoʔ ɲampuɣ ɣiʔ saɪ baɣihna diˈlom səˈmaŋat buˈkolpah./

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Adelaar, 2005, p. 22.
  2. Walker, 1976, p. 1.
  3. From Walker, 1975, pp. 14-17.