Different from Malay which only uses yang as an indicator to relate to both animate and inanimate objects (Rumah yang besar, Pelajar-pelajar yang bijak), melanau uses 4 types of indicator.
['a] pronounced long "a" as in charge or long a as in german Armut
is the shortest melanau word. The word ['a] functions as an element used to indicate a relative clause.
An example of a relative clause is:
English:
The boy who was not there.
Here the clause who was not there is a relative clause.
German:
Das ist der Junge, der den roten Mantel trägt.
Malay:
Itulah wanita yang cuba saya hubungi
From the above example the word who, der and yang function as an indicator of a relative clause. The same case applied to the word ['a] .
Different from Malay which only uses yang as an indicator to relate to both animate and inanimate objects (Rumah yang besar, Pelajar-pelajar yang bijak), melanau uses 4 types of indicator. These indicator are being used depends on the quantity and trait of the noun referred to.
These indicator are as follows:
['a] for a singular Person male or female
min-min 'a sakai kou gak skul béi jekap bajou séyk: all of them, who are my friends at the school, own a red shirt.
siyen 'a tedengah: He is the one, who is famous
[apah] for singular animate object animal or human
Salim, Anéyk Ramli, apah tika lalu : Salim, who is Ramli's oldest son
Siau, apah tina jaja kou gak nou: ( The chicken, the female one, I sell it to you)= I sell you the hen.
[wak] for inanimate object singular and plural
Ujik wak nebelei kou: The knife, which I bought. (Pisau yang saya beli)
Min-min wak enda nebak, iwéyk un: (Anything which is useless, better throw it away).= Anything useless better throw it away. (Apa-apa yang tidak berguna buang sahaja)
[lou] for plural animate objects
Makau buduek mapun skul, lou sakai kou: My friends, who walk to school.
Written by Learn Melanau
Learn Melanau by Nativeglot.com provides insider information about melanau unique cultures and language
Bak sama sama metoh ji jimik.
ReplyDeleteJebelah bajou, dua belah seluah adiek,
Jekap kerteh, dua kap asok, telou kap duit peluen rigit.