Kadazandusun

Kadazandusun is spoken in the state of Sabah in the north of Borneo in Malaysia by about 500,000 people. It is a member of the North Bornean branch of the Malayo-Polynesian language family. Kadazandusun refers to the form of language standardised by the Kadazandusun Cultural Association of Sabah, which is based on the Bundu-liwan dialect spoken in Bundu and Liwan. This dialect is more or less mutally intelligible with other Dusun (Boros Dusun) and Kadazan dialects.

During the 20th century there has been a language shift from Kadazandusun to Malay, and the authorities in Sabah have introduced policies which aim to slow this. Kadazandusun is now taught in schools in Sabah, and there are moves to give the language official status.

Kadazandusun alphabet and pronunciation

Information compiled by Michael Peter Füstumum

Sample text in Kadazandusun

Nosusu no do tuhun ngaavi i koidu om kopiagahan doid kotinguhan om sanganu. Kikasaavan om topiumanan ginavo zioho om minooi o tumindak id piahatan do iso suvai do sunduvan i kopiobpinazan.

Translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

Sample videos in Kadazandusun

Links

Information about the Kadazandusun language and people
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kadazandusun
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kadazan_language
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dusun_language

Kadazandusun Language Foundation
http://www.klf.com.my

Kadazandusun Cultural Association
http://kdca.org.my

Bornean languages

Bonggi, Ida’an, Kadazandusun, Kelabit, Lun Bawang, Melanau, Rejang

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page last modified: 23.04.21

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