Ngaju language
# Ngaju language

Ngaju (also Ngaju Dayak or Dayak Ngaju) is an Austronesian language spoken along the Kapuas, Kahayan, Katingan, and Mentaya Rivers in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. It is closely related to the Bakumpai language. There are three dialects—Pulopetak, Ba'amang, and Mantangai.

## Phonology

### Consonants

Ngaju has the following consonants.

Ngaju consonants :

| | Biabial | Biabial | Coronal | Coronal | Palatal | Palatal | Velar | Velar | Glottal |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Nasal | | m | | n | | ɲ | | ŋ | |
| Stop | p | b | t | d | c | ɟ | k | g | |
| Fricative | | | s | | | | | | h |
| Approximant (Lateral) | | | | | | j | | w | |
| Approximant (Lateral) | | | | l | | | | | |
| Trill | | | | r | | | | | |

### Vowels

Ngaju has the following vowels. All vowels except ə can be long.

Ngaju vowels :

| | Front | Central | Back rounded |
| - | - | - | - |
| High | i | | u |
| Mid | e | ə | o |
| Low | | a | |

## Orthography

### Vowels and diphthongs

* a – [a]
* e – [e/ə]
* i – [i]
* o – [o]
* u – [u]
* ai – [aj]
* au – [aw]
* ei – [ej]

### Consonants

* b – [b]
* c – [c]
* d – [d]
* g – [g]
* h – [h]
* j – [ɟ]
* k – [k/ʔ]
* l – [l]
* m – [m]
* n – [n]
* ng – [ŋ]
* ny – [ɲ]
* p – [p]
* r – [r]
* s – [s]
* t – [t]
* w – [w]
* y – [j]

## Vocabulary

Vocabulary comparison between Bakumpai, Ngaju, Indonesian and English languages.

| Bakumpai | Ngaju | Indonesian | English |
| - | - | - | - |
| Jida | Dia | Tidak | No |
| Beken | Beken | Bukan | Not |
| Pai | Pai | Kaki | Foot/Leg |
| Kueh | Kueh | Mana | Which/Where |
| Si-kueh | Bara-kueh | Dari mana | Where from |
| Hituh | Hetuh | Sini | Here |
| Si-hituh | Intu-hetuh | Di sini | Here |
| Bara | Bara | Dari | From |
| Kejaw | Kejaw | Jauh | Far |
| Tukep/Parak | Tukep | Dekat | Near |
| Kuman | Kuman | Makan | Eat |
| Mihup | Mihop | Minum | Drink |
| Lebu | Lewu | Kampung | Village |
| Batatapas | Bapukan | Mencuci pakaian | To wash clothes |
