Minangkabau language

The Minangkabau language (autonym: Baso Minang(kabau); Indonesian: Bahasa Minangkabau) is an Austronesian language, spoken by the Minangkabau-people of West Sumatra, in the western part of Riau and in several cities throughout Indonesia by migrated Minangkabau, who often trade or have a restaurant. It is also spoken in a part of Malaysia.

Due to great grammatical similarities between the Minangkabau language and Malay, there is some controversy regarding the relationship between the two. Some see Minangkabau as a dialect of Malay, while others think of Minangkabau as a proper (Malay) language.

Malaysia

Besides West Sumatra and western Riau, Minangkabau is also spoken in Malaysia, by some descendants of migrants from the Minang-speaking region in Sumatra (Tanah Minang, or Land of the Minang). Significant numbers of the early migrants settled in what is now the Malaysian state of Negeri Sembilan. 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 the language is called Aneuk Jamee.

Dialects

The Minangkabau language has several dialects, sometimes differing between nearby villages (e.g. separated by a river). In everyday communication between Minangkabau people of different regions, the Padang-dialect (Baso Padang or Baso Urang Awak "our (people's) language") is often used and has become a kind of standard.

Examples

Baso Minangkabau:	Sarang kayu di rimbo tak samo tinggi, kok kunun manusia (expression)
Indonesian:	Pohon di rimba tidak sama tinggi, apalagi manusia
English:	The trees in the jungle are not (all) of the same height, let alone the people.
Baso Minangkabau:	Co a kongcek baranang co itu inyo (expression)
Indonesian:	Dia berenang seperti katak
English:	He swims like a frog. (doing something without having a goal)
Baso Minangkabau:	Indak buliah mambuang sarok disiko!
Indonesian:	Tidak boleh membuang sampah di sini!
English:	It is not allowed to dump rubbish here!

Literature

• Tata Bahasa Minangkabau, Gerard Moussay

(original title La Langue Minangkabau, translated from French by Rahayu S. Hidayat), ISBN 979-9023-16-5.

See also