Dhao

Dhao is a member of the Sumba-Flores branch of the Malayo-Polynesian language family. It is spoken in Ndao Island in the Lesser Sunda Islands in Indonesia by about 5,000 people. It is classified as a member of the Sumba branch of Malayo-Polynesian languages, but may be a Papuan language. It is also known as Ndao, Ndaonese or Ndaundau.

Dhao alphabet and pronunciation

Notes

A double vowel at the beginning of a word is pronounced [ʁ], e.g. ana iiki [ʔana ʁiki] (small child).

f, q, v, w, x, y and z are only used in loanwords and foreign names.

Sample text (The Lord's Prayer - Luke 11: 2-4)

Ka Yesus peka, na, “Beꞌa! Sabajꞌa pake conto sèmi neꞌe: Ama! Kolongara Ama dhu mola-mèci. Hudꞌi laa dhèu aaꞌi-aaꞌi jꞌoka padedha-dedha kolongara Ama dhu kapai na. Hudꞌi laa Ama jꞌajꞌi Dhèu Aae mi dhèu aaꞌi-aaꞌi.
Ama hia laa jiꞌi bèli-bèli, ngangaꞌa dhu dꞌai.
Jiꞌi manèngi Ama pabhèlu eele sasala-sasigo jiꞌi, nuka sèmi jiꞌi kahèi pabhèlu eele sasala-sasala dhèu dhu tao mi dedha jiꞌi. Ama magee jiꞌi, sèna ka jiꞌi baku adꞌu-ue bhelu-katubꞌa.”

Source: https://www.bible.com/bible/1402/LUK.11.NFANTPO

Translation

And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Give us day by day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

Source: https://www.bible.com/bible/1/LUK.11.KJV

Some details provided by Michael Peter Füstumum

Sample videos in Dhao

Information about Dhao | Numbers | Tower of Babel

Links

Information about Dhao
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhao_language
http://www.ethnologue.com/18/language/nfa
http://e-kamus2.org/Dhao%20Lexicon/Dhao%20LexPro%20intro.htm

Sumba-Flores languages

Dhao, Ende, Hawu, Kambera, Kéo, Lio, Manggarainese, Ngadha, Palu’e, Rongga, Wejewa

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page last modified: 01.05.24

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