Minangkabau (ˌminɑːŋkəˈbau ; , Jawi: , : [ˈbaso mi.naŋˈka.bau]), simply known as Minang, is an Austronesian language spoken by the Minangkabau of West Sumatra, the western part of Riau, the southern and western coast of Aceh, the northern part of Bengkulu and Jambi, and also in several cities throughout Indonesia by migrated Minangkabau. The language is also a lingua franca along the western coastal region of the province of North Sumatra, and is even used in parts of Aceh, where it is known as the Aneuk Jamee dialect.

Minangkabau is similar to Malay. The relationship between the languages is characterized in different ways. Some see Minangkabau as an early variety of Malay, while others think of Minangkabau as a distinct (Malayic) language.

Minangkabau is one of a few languages that generally lacks verb forms and grammatical subject-object distinctions.

The Minangkabau language is still commonly spoken amongst the Minangkabau people, and it is used amongst the widespread Minangkabau diaspora. The Minangkabau language is deemed as "informal" in the urban regions of Padang, with the Indonesian language being preferred instead in formal institutions. Youth in the city frequently uses a mixture of conversational Minang and Indonesian slang.

thumb|upright=0.9|right|Minangkabau language in Arabic script on Minangkabau royal seal from the 19th century

Geographic distribution

Minangkabau is the native language of the Minangkabau people of West Sumatra. In everyday communication between Minangkabau people of different regions, the Agam-Tanah Datar dialect (Baso Padang or Baso Urang Awak 'our [people's] language') is often used and has become a kind of standard.

The Tapan language, spoken in the town of Tapan in southern West Sumatra province, is a recently discovered Malayan language which has been proposed as related to but not part of Minangkabau. Together, Tapan and Minangkabau would form a Greater Minangkabau subgroup. The two languages Tapan and Muko-Muko form a Lunangic subgroup within the Minangic (Greater Minangkabau) language group.

The Minangic subgroup is characterized by the following word-final sound changes.

Consonants

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

! colspan="2" |

!Labial

!Alveolar

!Palatal

!Velar

!Glottal

|-

! colspan="2" |Nasal

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! rowspan="2" |Plosive/<br>Affricate

!<small>voiceless</small>

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| ,

|-

!<small>voiced</small>

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|-

! colspan="2" |Fricative

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|-

! colspan="2" |Lateral

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! colspan="2" |Rhotic

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! colspan="2" |Semivowel

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|}

Vowels

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+Monophthongs

!

!Front

!Central

!Back

|-

!Close

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|-

!Mid

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|-

!Open

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|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+Diphthongs

!

!Front

!Back

|-

!Close

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| ,

|-

!Mid

|

|

|-

!Open

|colspan=2| ,

|}

Example

Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Minangkabau:<blockquote>Sadonyo urang lahia mardeka jo punyo martabaik jo hak-hak nan samo. Nyo diagiah aka jo hati nurani sarato handaknyo babaua samo nan lainnyo dalam samangaik badunsanak.</blockquote>Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in English:<blockquote>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.</blockquote>

Sentences

{| class="wikitable"

|- valign="top"

! English

! Minangkabau

! Indonesian

|-

|How are you now?

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|I'm well. How about you?

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|What is your name?

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|My name is ...

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|Thank you.

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|-

|The trees in the jungle don't have the same height, moreover the people. (Proverb)

| (Pribaso)

| (Peribahasa)

|-

|"As the frog swims, so he/she swims too." (He/she is doing something without having a goal.)

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|Don't throw the rubbish here! (Command)

| (Parintah)

| (Perintah)

|-

|Do not touch! You will burn your hand.

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|}

Numerals

{| class="wikitable"

|- valign="top"

! Number

! Minangkabau

! Indonesian

! English

|-

|1

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|one

|-

|2

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|two

|-

|3

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|three

|-

|4

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|four

|-

|5

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|five

|-

|6

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|six

|-

|7

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|seven

|-

|8

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|eight

|-

|9

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|nine

|-

|10

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|ten

|-

|11

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|eleven

|-

|15

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|fifteen

|-

|50

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|fifty

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|100

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|one hundred/a hundred

|-

|150

|

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|one hundred and fifty

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|500

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|five hundred

|-

|#,000

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|thousand

|-

|#,000,000

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|million

|-

|#,000,000,000

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|billion

|}

See also

  • Minangkabau people
  • Overseas Minangkabau

References

Further reading

  • Nurlela Adnan, Ermitati, Rosnida M. Nur, Pusat Bahasa (Indonesia), Balai Pustaka (Persero), PT. 2001 – Indonesian-Minangkabau dictionary (Kamus bahasa Indonesia-Minangkabau), 841 pages.
  • Marjusman Maksan, Yulina Kasim, Tamsin Medan, Syamsir Arifin, Basri, A. Razak Sikumbang, 1984, Geografi Dialek Bahasa Minangbakau, Jakarta, Pusat Pembinaan Dan Pengembangan Bahasa Departemen Pendidikan Dan Kebudayaan, 1984.
  • Tata Bahasa Minangkabau, Gerard Moussay (original title La Langue Minangkabau, translated from French by Rahayu S. Hidayat), .
  • Rosetta Project: Minangkabau Swadesh List