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Matbat language

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Matbat
Misool
Native toIndonesia
RegionMisool, Raja Ampat Islands
EthnicityMatbat and Matlow
Native speakers
1,000–1,500 (2001)[1]
Dialects
  • Aduwei
  • Gam
  • Matlow
  • Me Yot (Me Tip)
Language codes
ISO 639-3xmt
Glottologmatb1237
Approximate location where Matbat is spoken
Approximate location where Matbat is spoken
Matbat
Coordinates: 1°53′S 130°04′E / 1.88°S 130.07°E / -1.88; 130.07

Matbat is a heavily Papuan-influenced Austronesian language spoken in Southwest Papua, Indonesia, on the island of Misool, Raja Ampat Islands.[1] Its dialects are Magey and Tomolol.[2]: 17  Similar to the neighboring Ma'ya language, Matbat is one of a handful of Austronesian languages with true lexical tone rather than a pitch-accent system or complete lack of phonemic tonal contrasts as with most other Austronesian languages.[3]

Distribution

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Matbat is spoken in the following locations within Raja Ampat Regency:[4]

  • Misool Timur District: Tumolol, Lenmalas, Lenmalas Timur Barat, Audam, Foley, and Eduai villages
  • Misool Utara District: Atkari and Salafen villages
  • Misool Barat District: Magei village

Dialects

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The Matbat language is divided into several dialects, but generally four distinct dialects: Aduwei, Gam, Matlow, and Me Yot (Me Tip). Based on their speech area, they are as follows:[5]

  • The Aduwei dialect is spoken in the north and a small part in the south, including the villages of Salafen, Aduwei, and Atkari.
  • The Gam dialect is spoken in the villages of Waya Gam, Magey, and parts of Kapatcol.
  • The Matlow dialect is spoken on the south and east coast of Misool Island, especially in the villages of Fafanlap, Kafopop (Kayerepop), Yellu, Dabatan, and Gamta. It is also considered a separate language by the Language Development and Fostering Agency. However, in general, the differences are not very pronounced. This dialect is also known as Matbat Laut or Misool.[6]
  • The Me Yot (Me Tip) dialect is the dialect with the most speakers. This dialect covers most of southern Misool Island and the interior, including areas such as the villages of Me Yot, Bemlol, Audam, Temulol (Tomolol), Folley (Me Fol), Lenmalas, and Atkari.

Phonology

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The phonology of the Matbat language is summarized below:[7]

Consonant sounds
Labial Alveolar Palatal Velar Glottal
Plosive p b t d k g
Fricative f s h
Nasal m n ŋ
Lateral l
Glide j w

/j/ can be heard freely as [ʝ] or [ɟ] in word-initial position.[1]

Vowel sounds
Front Back
Close i u
Mid e o
ɛ ɔ
Open a

Tones

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Matbat has five lexical tones: high falling ˥˩ 41, high ˦ 3, low rising ˩˨ 12, low level ˩ 1, and low falling ˨˩ 21, which in open syllables has a peaking allophone, ˩˨˩ 121. Most Matbat words are monosyllabic; additional syllables in polysyllabic words are often weak and toneless, though a few words do have two tonic syllables. Examples of some of the longer monomorphemic words are /kamow˩˨/ 'star', /wuj˦te/ 'sea shore', /sapu˥˩luj˩˨/ 'round', /bim˦bom˩˨˩pu/ 'butterfly'.

Evolution

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Tonogenesis in Matbat remains unclear. Some Matbat reflexes of Proto-Malayo-Polynesian (PMP) proto-forms are listed below.[3]: 658–659 

  • PMP *bunuq > Mayá bu³n 'kill'
  • PMP *penuq > fo¹²n 'full'
  • PMP *salaq > sa³l 'error'
  • PMP *qateluR (> *teluR) > to¹²l 'egg'
  • PMP *matay > ma¹²t 'die'
  • PMP *kutu > u³t 'louse'

Numerals

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Matbat, a Malayo-Polynesian language, shares a basic numeral vocabulary. Here's a comparison with Indonesian and its translation.[5]

Gloss Matbat Indonesian
one sa satu
two lu dua
three tol tiga
four itat empat
five ilim lima
six inom enam
seven ifit tujuh
eight iwal delapan
nine isiu sembilan
ten iya sepuluh
eleven yamaten sebelas
twenty yalu dua puluh
fifty yun lima puluh
one hundred yip seratus

References

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  1. ^ a b c Remijsen, A. C. L. (2002). Word-Prosodic Systems of Raja Ampat Languages. Leiden: Leiden University.
  2. ^ Kamholz, David (2014). Austronesians in Papua: Diversification and Change in South Halmahera–West New Guinea (Ph.D. thesis). University of California, Berkeley.
  3. ^ a b Blust, Robert (2013). The Austronesian Languages (Revised ed.). Canberra: Pacific Linguistics. hdl:1885/10191. ISBN 978-1-922185-07-5.
  4. ^ Ronsumbre, Adolof (2020). Ensiklopedia Suku Bangsa di Provinsi Papua Barat. Yogyakarta: Penerbit Kepel Press. ISBN 978-602-356-318-0.
  5. ^ a b Yapsenang, Yudha N.; Apituley, Peter M.; Slippy, Janeke P.; Rasyid, Ramla A. (2013). Putra, Cahya; Sudayasa, I Made (eds.). Kearifan Lokal Sistem Berladang Etnis Matbat di Kampung Magey Distrik Misool Barat Kabupaten Raja Ampat (PDF) (in Indonesian). Ministry of Education and Culture (1 ed.). Yogyakarta: Kepel Press. pp. 1–137. ISBN 978-602-1228-06-7.
  6. ^ Mambrisaw, Artemas; Wurlianty, Barnabas; Liuw, Fery; Hamel, Samuel; Lamatenggo, Yusdi; Rumbekwan, Inna; Muljadi, Andreas H.; Sukmara, Asep; Sumantri, Hendi; Omkarsba, Joris (2006). Atlas Sumberdaya Pesisir Kabupaten Raja Ampat Provinsi Irian Jaya Barat (PDF) (in Indonesian). Cooperation between the Raja Ampat Regency Government and the Raja Ampat Regency Coastal Resources Atlas Consortium; fully funded by Conservation International Indonesia (CII). Waisai: Konsorsium Atlas Sumberdaya Pesisir Kabupaten Raja Ampat. pp. 1–139.
  7. ^ Remijsen, Bert (2010). Nouns and Verbs in Magey Matbat. Michael C. Ewing and Marian Klamer (eds.), East Nusantara: typological and areal analyses: Australian National University. pp. 281–311.

Further reading

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