Sigulai language

Sigulai
Dau Batu[1]
Native toIndonesia
RegionSimeulue, Aceh
EthnicitySigulai
Native speakers
(undated figure of 20,000)[2]
Austronesian
Language codes
ISO 639-3skh
Glottologsiku1242

The Sigulai language (also called Sibigo, Sikule, Ageumeui, or Wali Banuah) is an Austronesian language spoken on Simeulue island off the western coast of Sumatra in Indonesia.[3] It belongs to the Malayo-Polynesian branch of the Austronesian languages. Sikule is one of Northwest Sumatra–Barrier Islands languages, which are a sub-group of Western Malayo-Polynesian.[4]

Sikule is spoken in Salang, Alafan and Simeulue Barat district, on the northern of Simeulue island. It is apparently related to the Nias language.[5] Ethnologue lists Lekon and Tapah as dialects.[2]

Simeulue is spoken in the rest of Simeulue outside of Alafan, while Jamu (also called Kamano), related to Minangkabau, is spoken in the capital city of Sinabang.

Vocabulary

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Sigulai is most closely related to Nias language, spoken on the island of Nias. However, it also shares many vocabulary similarities with Simeulue, spoken on the same island. The following is vocabulary in Sigulai.[6]

Gloss Sigulai
Interrogatives vocabulary
what ati, atei
who ate'ila
why tolawu
how atayya
where a'ué
where to aumey'i
where from aufuluyi
how much galofè
when gafai
Pronouns vocabulary
I yètu
you yège, yami
he ifei
they i'ila
we yaga, i'ita
Numerals vocabulary
one amba
two dumba
three tulu
four efa
five lima
six ene
seven fitu
eight olu
nine siwa
ten fulu
Verbs vocabulary
go me'i
walk deuleu
eat manga
drink manginu
sleep mele'
sit dadau'
stand indô-indô
run khumundung
bath mondi
lift bengkè'
Times vocabulary
yesterday mènèfi
tomorrow fôngi
the day after tomorrow mèlè fungilanin
morning subu
afternoon pastô
evening aniôfi
night akhemi
earlier mènoa
later inu'te
now lali' ila
a moment akhajap
formerly nafi'i
Adverbs vocabulary
top alawa
bottom eteu, fa'aleu
left bilok
right gambele
side ngayi
here mandé'é
there uhan, mènèn
front khaifena
behind khaifuli
this mandé
that mènèn
Basics vocabulary
in kha
to miy'èn
want bakha
can deyi
very faga'a, kali
yes e'e
no ukhai'
don't deyya'
for miyège
with afe
there is u
already mola
not yet ya'na'e
just ama'
within khaybakha
not ténga
Adjectives vocabulary
many uguya
few atepénga
less deahô' uguya
more atua
enough deila
Nouns vocabulary
board fafa
lobster lakhua'
betel nut elan
coconut boniô
village gampung
ricefield nofi, belang
island ulau
lightning lôlô
water idane

Phonology

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The vowel and consonant phonemes of Sikule are shown in the tables below.[7]

Sikule vowel phonemes
Front Central Back
Close i ɨ u
Mid e ə o
Open a
Sikule consonant phonemes
Labial Alveolar Post-alveolar/
Palatal
Velar Glottal
Nasal m n ɲ ŋ
Plosive/
Affricate
voiceless p t t͡ʃ k (ʔ)
voiced b d d͡ʒ ɡ
Fricative s x h
Approximant median j
lateral l
Trill r

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Aklis, Irsadul (2020-03-10). "Penamaan Bahasa Sigulai: Sudah Tepatkah?". Balai Bahasa Provinsi Aceh. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  2. ^ a b Sigulai at Ethnologue (16th ed., 2009) Closed access icon
  3. ^ Chapter 3 – Tsunami 1907: Early Interpretation and its Development (PDF), pp. 12–32, archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-26
  4. ^ Adelaar, 2005, p. 22.
  5. ^ "Simeulue" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-12-30. Retrieved 2013-11-24 – via asiaharvest.org.
  6. ^ "Bahasa Sigulai" [Sigulai Language]. Word Dialect. Bahasa dan Dialek Asia (Asian Languages and Dialects) (in Indonesian). Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  7. ^ Nothofer, 1986, p. 96

Sources

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