MENTAWAI LANGUAGE
Mentawai language becomes to Melayu Polinesia Language,
one of seven language resmi in Sumatra Island
(Aceh, Batak, Minangkabau, Malaya, Lampung, Nias and Mentawai).
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Many dialects in Mentawai, until make difficult by one place and other's meaning. But, Mentawai language is still known and understood by people at 4 islands. Siberut such as source of Mentawai language, people and custom and traditions. |
Mentawai Language Structure
Mentawai language is concrete language. What they see or they feel, there are in language. Like Indonesia language, Mentawai language have suffix and infix where can make a new word.
Example Susun = full, can be as kasusun, pususun.
Root of a word Galai can be:
| masi-galai | doing |
| mugalai | working |
| galaiakenen | what can I do |
| sigalaiakenen | What can I had been do |
| sigalaimai | What can we do |
| galaijet | work / make |
| masigalaiake | bring about |
Some general word for trekking in Mentawai:
| English | Nganga Mentawai |
| Hi..! / How are you | Anaileoita |
| Thanks you | Masura Bagata |
| Thanks you very much | Surak Sabeu |
| You will come | Simakerek |
| I don't know | Tak kuagai |
| He doesn't know | Tak iagai |
| Daddy / Father | Bajak |
| Chief of Clan | Rimata |
| Walking around | Menung / Mugejek |
| I love you | Kuobak Ekeu |
| I miss to my darling | Magoa bagaku ka sibaralaket |
| I'm falling in love | Aku belek obak |
| I'm sorry | Bojoik |
| I come from... | Aku bara... |
| Where are you going..?? | Kaipa Nuei..?? |
| May I take your photograph..?? | Momoi Ku foto Ekeu..?? |
| May I take your arrow..?? | Momoi kutidou silogoi ekeu..? |
| Do you want some tobaccos..?? | Nuo bak ubek Nekne..?? |
| I bring you some tobaccos | Akua bit kai ubek |
| Give me a cigarette | Akek Ubek Sakaju |
| My cigarette is empty | Asapru ubek |
| Give me a drink | Akek lokku |
| Do you want some sugar..?? | Nuo bak gulo nekne..?? |
| I want to sleep | Anai aku merep |
| What's your name | Kasei Onim..?? |
| My name is... | Oning ku... |
| Learn | Pasigelai |
| Morning | Simancep |
| Midday | Sitagok |
| Evening | Sisoubok |
| Monkey skeleton | Utet Joja |
| Monkey pig | Utet Saina |
| Tattoo | Titi |
Number in Mentawai language:
| One | sara | Six | enem | Eleven | pulu sara |
| Two | rua | Seven | pitu | Twenty | rua pilu |
| Three | telu | Eight | balu | One Hundred | sangotu |
| Four | epat | Nine | siba | Two Hundred | ruangotu |
| Five | lima | Ten | pulu | One Thousand | sangaribu |
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