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. 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.

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

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

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.

GlossSigulai
Interrogatives vocabulary
whatati, atei
whoate'ila
whytolawu
howatayya
wherea'ué
where toaumey'i
where fromaufuluyi
how muchgalofè
whengafai
Pronouns vocabulary
Iyètu
youyège, yami
heifei
theyi'ila
weyaga, i'ita
Numerals vocabulary
oneamba
twodumba
threetulu
fourefa
fivelima
sixene
sevenfitu
eightolu
ninesiwa
tenfulu
Verbs vocabulary
gome'i
walkdeuleu
eatmanga
drinkmanginu
sleepmele'
sitdadau'
standindô-indô
runkhumundung
bathmondi
liftbengkè'
Times vocabulary
yesterdaymènèfi
tomorrowfôngi
the day after tomorrowmèlè fungilanin
morningsubu
afternoonpastô
eveninganiôfi
nightakhemi
earliermènoa
laterinu'te
nowlali' ila
a momentakhajap
formerlynafi'i
Adverbs vocabulary
topalawa
bottometeu, fa'aleu
leftbilok
rightgambele
sidengayi
heremandé'é
thereuhan, mènèn
frontkhaifena
behindkhaifuli
thismandé
thatmènèn
Basics vocabulary
inkha
tomiy'èn
wantbakha
candeyi
veryfaga'a, kali
yese'e
noukhai'
don'tdeyya'
formiyège
withafe
there isu
alreadymola
not yetya'na'e
justama'
withinkhaybakha
notténga
Adjectives vocabulary
manyuguya
fewatepénga
lessdeahô' uguya
moreatua
enoughdeila
Nouns vocabulary
boardfafa
lobsterlakhua'
betel nutelan
coconutboniô
villagegampung
ricefieldnofi, belang
islandulau
lightninglôlô
wateridane

Phonology

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

Sikule vowel phonemes
FrontCentralBack
Closeiɨu
Mideəo
Opena
Sikule consonant phonemes
LabialAlveolarPost-alveolar/ PalatalVelarGlottal
Nasalmnɲŋ
Plosive/ Affricatevoicelessptt͡ʃk(ʔ)
voicedbdd͡ʒɡ
Fricativesxh
Approximantmedianj
laterall
Trillr

See also

Sources

  • Adelaar, Alexander, The Austronesian Languages of Asia and Madagascar: A Historical Perspective, The Austronesian Languages of Asia and Madagascar, pp. 1-42, Routledge Language Family Series, London, Routledge, 2005, ISBN 0-7007-1286-0
  • Aziz, Z.; Amery, R. (2016). . . Syiah Kuala University. {{cite journal}}:External link in |journal= (help)
  • Candrasari, Ratri; Harinawati; Fasya, Teuku Kemal (2022-03-24). . Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Social Science, Political Science, and Humanities (ICoSPOLHUM 2021). Vol. 648. Atlantis Press. pp. 6–9. doi:. ISBN 978-94-6239-552-7.
  • Nothofer, Bernd, The Barrier Island Languages in the Austronesian Language Family, Focal II: Papers From the Fourth International Conference on Austronesian Linguistics, pp. 87-109, Pacific Linguistics, Series C 94, Canberra, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, The Australian National University, 1986.