Bunak language
Spoken in
- Papuan Trans - New Guinea languages Timor- Alor - pantar Timor- Kisar bunak
-
Paa
Bfn
Bunak ( Bunaq, in the northeast of the settlement area Gaiq or Gaeq ) is a Papuan language in south-central Timor. Approximately 100,000 members of ethno-linguistic group of Bunak use the language as their mother tongue.
Basics
The Bunak belong to the ethnic Timorese, who speak a non- Austronesian language, and probably among the Papua - speaking ethnic groups. They are surrounded by Malayo - Polynesian -speaking peoples, such as the Atoin Meto, Kemak, Mambai and Tetum. Bunak due to this isolation is very different from the other Timorese Papuan Makasae and Fataluku spoken in the extreme east of the island. In addition Bunak subject to a stronger influence by the Austronesian languages.
Bunak can be divided into five main dialects: West, Lamaknen, Northeast, Ainaro and Manufahi. Within these main groups, there are many other variations. Part, there are differences from village to village. If necessary, you can also define the dialect to Lolotoe as the main group.
The language of Bunak is one of the 15 national languages recognized by the Constitution of East Timor.
Language area
Centers of language Bunak are the places in East Timor Bobonaro and Lolotoe in the district Bobonaro, Tilomar and Zumalai in the District of Cova Lima, Cassa in the district Ainaro and Betano and seed in the district Manufahi. A total of 55 837 East Timorese Bunak designate as their mother tongue.
In West Timor Bunak is mainly in the district ( Kecamatan ) Lamaknen spoken. Together with other languages also in the districts Raihat, Rai Manuk Kobalima and Kobalima Timur.
Share of Bunak - native speakers in the Sucos East Timor
Overview map of the languages of East Timor
Vocabulary
The strong influence of Austronesian languages manifests itself in the vocabulary. About 30 % comes from the neighboring languages Kemak, Tokodede, Uab Meto and Mambai. To derive kaqa ( older brother ), nana (older sister) and tata ( ancestor ) of the Kemak words kapa -q, r and tata- nana- r. Ama ( Father ) is found in Tetum, Mambai and Kemak. Baba ( maternal uncle ) is derived from Uab Meto - word baba - forth. Strikingly, most of the words that describe women as eme (mother) or pana (woman ) are not Austronesian origin. Therefore, there is speculation that the Austronesian words were brought in by the married men of the Nachbarethnien.
The words in Bunak are often heavily eroded, many only consist of one syllable. So is the word for dog in Fataluku " iparu " and Makasae " defa ", but in Bunak just " zap ". The vocabulary includes words which seem to come from the pre- Papua - time Timor, as well as words from Portuguese Malay us.
In the northeast the Bunak use as a proper name for themselves and their language even the words Gaiq or Gaeq, which is derived from MgAl, the foreign designation by the Kemak. According to the oral tradition of the local Bunak they formerly belonged to the kingdom of Likusaen ( Likosaen ), which with today's Liquiçá had its center in the field of Tokodede and Kemak. It is this kingdom shall be responsible for the strong linguistic influence of Kemaks to the language of Bunak. Numerous fiefs words are therefore found in Bunak from the Austronesian Kemak, less out Mambai. In Lamknen the Bunak adopted many sayings from the Tetum for ritual acts. The reason was the influence of the kingdom of Tetum Wehale, formed an autonomous region of the Lamaknen.