Rahul Sharma (Editor)

Kenyah languages

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Geographicdistribution:
  
Borneo

Linguistic classification:
  
AustronesianMalayo-PolynesianNorth BorneanNorth SarawakanKenyah

Glottolog:
  
kaya1332  (partial match)

The Kenyah languages are a group of half a dozen or so closely related languages spoken by the Kenyah peoples of Borneo. They are:

Kenyah proper (a dialect cluster, incl. Madang), Sebob, Bakung, Tutoh (Long Wat), Wahau Kenyah, Uma’ Lung / Uma’ Lasan.

Ethnologue says that the Punan–Nibong languages are related to Uma’ Lasan, Glottolog that they are outside the Kenyah languages.

Classification

Soriente (2008) proposes a Kayan-Kenyah grouping.

  • Proto–Kayan-Kenyah
  • Kenyah
  • Upper Pujungan
  • Usun Apau
  • Penan
  • West Penan
  • East Penan
  • Kayanic
  • Lebu’ Kulit
  • Mboh
  • Ngorek
  • Kayan

    • However, Smith (2015) rejects Soriente's grouping, and argues that Kenyah and Kayan are separate groups. Smith (2015) proposes the following classification.

  • Proto-Kenyah
  • Highland
  • Highland A dialects: Lepo’ Gah, Lepo’ Sawa, Lepo’ Laang, Lepo’, Ma’ut, Lepo’ Ké, Bakung, Lepo’ Ndang
  • Highland B dialects: Lepo’ Tau, Badeng, Uma’ Lasan, Uma’ Alim, Òma Lóngh
  • Lowland
  • Western Lowland dialects: Lebo’ Vo’
  • Eastern Lowland dialects: Uma’ Pawe, Uma’ Kulit, Uma’ Ujok, Lepo’ Timai
  • Penan-Sebop
  • Penan
  • Sebop

    • References

    Kenyah languages Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA