Kebalan
Kavalan
Austronesian (East Formosan)
Kavalan (Kebalan) is a critically endangered East Formosan Austronesian language of eastern Taiwan, with only around two dozen fluent elderly speakers concentrated in Hualien (Sinshe/Paterungan villages) and remembered in Yilan. Officially recognized as a separate Indigenous people of Taiwan in 2002 after a long campaign. Typologically conservative within Austronesian: retains Proto-Austronesian *R as /x/ (e.g. zanuR > zanum-related cognates), preserves a four-way Philippine-type voice system, and shows VOS basic order. Revitalization efforts include the CIP "Language Nest" program.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Kavalan
Sources
- Li, Paul Jen-kuei & Tsuchida, Shigeru (2006) Kavalan Dictionary. Institute of Linguistics, Academia Sinica, Taipei.
- Li, Paul Jen-kuei & Tsuchida, Shigeru (2006) Kavalan Texts. Academia Sinica.
- Glottolog: Kavalan
- Council of Indigenous Peoples (Taiwan): Kebalan / Kavalan language resources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Austronesian (East Formosan)
| Meaning | Kavalan | Sakizaya | Proto-Austronesian | Bukar-Sadong Bidayuh | Pazeh | Maguindanao | Bunun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | zanum /zaˈnum/ | nanum /nanum/ | *daNum /daNum/ | umoʼ /umoʔ/ | dalum /dalum/ | ig /ʔiɡ/ | danum /danum/ |
| Fire | ramaz /raˈmaz/ | lamal /lamal/ | *Sapuy /Sapuy/ | apui /aˈpui/ | hapuy /hapuj/ | apoy /ʔaˈpoj/ | sapuz /sapuz/ |
| Sun | siban /siˈban/ | cidal /tʃidal/ | *waRi /waRi/ | batŭh andu /batəh andu/ | rizax /ɾizax/ | senang /seˈnaŋ/ | vali /vali/ |
| Moon | buran /buˈran/ | bulad /bulad/ | *bulaN /bulaN/ | bulan /buˈlan/ | ilas /ilas/ | bulan /buˈlan/ | buan /buan/ |
| Star | bituqan /bituqan/ | boʼis /boʔis/ | *bituqen /bituqen/ | bintŭʼ /bintəʔ/ | mintol /mintol/ | bitun /biˈtun/ | bintuhan /bintuhan/ |
| Night | qabi /ʁabiʔ/ | labiʼ /labiʔ/ | *beRŋi /beʀŋi/ | bengaru /bəŋaru/ | xinian /xinian/ | magabi /maɡabi/ | labian /labian/ |
| Rain | uzan /uˈzan/ | ʼudad /ʔuðað/ | *quzaN /quzaN/ | — | udan /udan/ | ulan /ˈʔulan/ | qudan /qudan/ |
| Snow | suRna /suʁna/ | sulda /sulda/ | *SuReNa /SuReNa/ | — | hahela /hahela/ | — | paav /paav/ |
| Wind | bari /baˈri/ | baliʼ /baliʔ/ | *bali /bali/ | — | bari /baɾi/ | endu /ʔənˈdu/ | luvluv /luvluv/ |
| Earth | melanay /məɾaˈnaj/ | lalaʼ /ɾaɾaʔ/ | *taneq /taneq/ | tanaʼ /tanaʔ/ | daxe /daxəʔ/ | lupa /lupaʔ/ | dalah /dalah/ |
| Stone | btu /btu/ | baʼtu /baʔtu/ | *batu /batu/ | batu /baˈtu/ | batu /batu/ | watu /waˈtu/ | batu /batu/ |
| Mountain | naung /nauŋ/ | buyuʼ /bujuʔ/ | *bukij /bukij/ | — | — | palaw /paˈlaw/ | ludun /ludun/ |
| Sea | lazing /laziŋ/ | bayu /baju/ | *tenem /tenem/ | — | awas /awas/ | lagat /ˈlaɡat/ | ning-av /ŋiŋʔav/ |
| Mother | tina /ˈtina/ | ina /ina/ | *ina /ina/ | andŭ /andə/ | ina /ina/ | ina /ˈʔina/ | tina /tina/ |
| Father | tama /ˈtama/ | ama /ama/ | *ama /ama/ | amang /amaŋ/ | aba /aba/ | ama /ˈʔama/ | tama /tama/ |
| I | aiku /aiku/ | zaku /ʐaku/ | *aku /aku/ | aku /aku/ | yaku /jaku/ | saki /saki/ | saikin /saikin/ |
| You | aisu /aisu/ | kisu /kisu/ | *iSu /iSu/ | amuʼ /amuʔ/ | isiu /isiu/ | seka /səka/ | suu /suʔu/ |
| We | aita / aimi /aita / aimi/ | kita / kami /kita / kami/ | *kita / *kami /kita / kami/ | ami /ami/ | ita / yami /ita / jami/ | sekitanu / sekami /səkitanu / səkami/ | kata / kaimin /kata / kaimin/ |
| Name | nangan /naŋan/ | ngangan /ŋaŋan/ | *ŋajan /ŋajan/ | ganan /ɡanan/ | ngadan /ŋadan/ | ngala /ŋala/ | ngaan /ŋaan/ |
| Person | lazat /lazat/ | tademaw /tadəmaw/ | *Cau /tsau/ | — | saw /saw/ | taw /taw/ | bunun /bunun/ |
| Head | uru /uʁu/ | tangah /taŋah/ | *quluh /quluh/ | — | punu /punu/ | ulu /ˈʔulu/ | bungu /buŋu/ |
| Eye | mata /maˈta/ | mata /mata/ | *maCa /maCa/ | bateh /baˈteh/ | daurik /dauɾik/ | mata /maˈta/ | mata /mata/ |
| Ear | kayal /kajal/ | tangilaʼ /taŋilaʔ/ | *Caliŋa /tsaliŋa/ | kaping /kaˈpiŋ/ | sainga /saiŋa/ | tangila /taˈŋila/ | tainga /taiŋa/ |
| Nose | unung /unuŋ/ | cihek /tsihək/ | *ujuŋ /ujuŋ/ | undung /unduŋ/ | muzing /muziŋ/ | ngilung /ˈŋiluŋ/ | ngutus /ŋutus/ |
| Mouth | ngibiR /ŋibiʁ/ | laway /lawaj/ | — | bebaʼ /bəbaʔ/ | ahan /ahan/ | ngali /ˈŋali/ | ngulus /ŋulus/ |
| Tooth | bangraw /baŋʁau/ | ngipən /ŋipən/ | *nipen /nipen/ | jipeu /dʒipeu/ | lepeng /ləpəŋ/ | ngipen /ŋipen/ | nipun /nipun/ |
| Tongue | rilam /ʁilam/ | səmaʼ /səmaʔ/ | *Sema /Sema/ | jeli /dʒeli/ | dahama /dahama/ | dila /dila/ | mamaʼ /mamaʔ/ |
| Hand | rima /riˈma/ | kamay /kamai/ | *lima /lima/ | tangan /taŋan/ | rima /ɾima/ | lima /liˈma/ | ima /ima/ |
| Foot | zapan /zaˈpan/ | — | *qaqay /qaqay/ | — | karaw /kaɾaw/ | ai /ʔai/ | bantas /bantas/ |
| Heart | anem /aˈnəm/ | gawang /ɡawaŋ/ | *pusuq /pusuq/ | sintung /sintuŋ/ | baga /baɡa/ | pusong /puˈsoŋ/ | is-ang /isaŋ/ |
| Bone | tiran /tiʁan/ | ʼukak /ʔukak/ | *CuqelaN /CuqelaN/ | turang /turaŋ/ | bul /bul/ | tulan /tuˈlan/ | tuhnaz /tuhnað/ |
| Blood | rinang /ʁinaŋ/ | ʼidang /ʔidaŋ/ | *daRaq /daRaq/ | daya /daja/ | damu /damu/ | lugu /luɡuʔ/ | haidang /haidaŋ/ |
| Poop | tad /tad/ | taiʼ /taiʔ/ | *Caqi /tsaqi/ | taki /taki/ | — | tahi /ˈtahi/ | taki /taki/ |
| Love | — /—/ | maolah /maolah/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | kalini /kaˈlini/ | madaidaz /madaidaz/ |
| Tree | kasuy /kaˈsuj/ | kilang /kilaŋ/ | *kaSiw /kaSiw/ | kayuh /kaˈjuh/ | kahuy /kahuj/ | kayu /kaˈju/ | kahu /kahu/ |
| Dog | wasu /waˈsu/ | waco /watʃo/ | *asu /asu/ | kasung /kasuŋ/ | wazu /wazu/ | aso /ˈʔaso/ | asu /asu/ |
| Cat | ngiyaw /ŋiˈjaw/ | posi /posi/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | kuting /kuˈtiŋ/ | ngingiyaw /ŋiŋijaw/ |
| Fish | baut /baut/ | buting /butiŋ/ | *Sikan /Sikan/ | ekan /ekan/ | alaw /alaw/ | seda /səˈdaʔ/ | iskan /iskan/ |
| Bird | alam /aˈɬam/ | ayam /ajam/ | *manuk /manuk/ | — | ayam /ajam/ | papanuk /papaˈnuk/ | hazam /hazam/ |
| Butterfly | pulaw /pulaw/ | adipapang /adipapaŋ/ | *baŋbaŋ /baŋbaŋ/ | — | — | paro-paro /paroˈparo/ | balikuan /balikuan/ |
| Egg | tirur /tiʁuʁ/ | tiʼkuk /tiʔkuk/ | *qiCeluR /qicəlur/ | — | batu pataru /batu pataɾu/ | leman /ləˈman/ | lububunun /lububunun/ |
| Bear | tumay /tuˈmai/ | tumay /tumai/ | *Cumay /Cumay/ | buhang /buˈhaŋ/ | — | — | tumaz /tumað/ |
| Horse | kebayu /kəbaju/ | kabayu /kabaju/ | — | — | gamay /ɡamaj/ | kuda /kuda/ | tasasikis /tasasikis/ |
| House | lepaw /ləˈpaw/ | luma /luma/ | *Rumaq /Rumaq/ | ramin /raˈmin/ | xuma /xuma/ | walay /waˈlaj/ | lumaq /lumaq/ |
| Honey | wanu /wanu/ | waneng nu wadu /wanəŋ nu wadu/ | — | — | — | teneb /təˈnəb/ | vanu /vanu/ |
| Salt | zemiyan /zəmijan/ | cikah /tsikah/ | *qasiRa /qasiRa/ | — | pahah /pahah/ | timus /ˈtimus/ | hasila /hasila/ |
| Rice | beRas /bəʁas/ | belac /bəlats/ | *beRas /beRas/ | — | — | begas /bəˈɡas/ | cilas /tsilas/ |
| Iron | balis /baˈlis/ | mukin /mukin/ | — | — | — | putaw /puˈtaw/ | ngul-a /ŋulʔa/ |
| Wheel | krizeng /kriˈzəŋ/ | bihel /bihel/ | — | — | — | tilikan /tiliˈkan/ | tauntaun /tauntaun/ |
| Book | sudad /sudad/ | cudad /tsudad/ | — | — | babizu /babizu/ | libru /ˈlibɾu/ | patasan /patasan/ |
| Eat | quman /quˈman/ | hekal /hekal/ | *kaen /kaen/ | maʼan /maʔan/ | mekan /məkan/ | kakan /kaˈkan/ | maun /maun/ |
| Drink | mimum /miˈmum/ | mihecak /mihetʃak/ | *inum /inum/ | nyihŭp /ɲihəp/ | mimaazip /mimaːzip/ | inum /ʔiˈnum/ | muqun /muqun/ |
| Sleep | mainep /maiˈnəp/ | mabiʼ /mabiʔ/ | *tuduR /tuduR/ | — | masuaw /masuaw/ | tulug /ˈtuluɡ/ | masabah /masabah/ |
| One | issa /ˈissa/ | cacay /tʃatʃai/ | *isa /isa/ | indi /indi/ | adang /adaŋ/ | isa /ˈʔisa/ | tasa /tasa/ |
| Two | zusa /zusa/ | tusa /tusa/ | *duSa /duSa/ | duɔh /duɔh/ | dusa /dusa/ | dua /duwa/ | dusa /dusa/ |
| Three | turu /tuɾu/ | tulu /tulu/ | *telu /telu/ | taruh /taːruh/ | turu /tuɾu/ | telu /təluʔ/ | tau /tau/ |
| Four | spat /spat/ | sepat /səpat/ | *Sepat /səpat/ | umpat /umpat/ | supat /supat/ | pat /pat/ | paat /paːt/ |
| Five | rima /riˈma/ | lima /lima/ | *lima /lima/ | rimah /riməh/ | xasep /xasəp/ | lima /lima/ | hima /hima/ |
| Hundred | Rasibu /ʁasibu/ | lasubu /lasubu/ | *RaCus /RaCus/ | siratus /siraːtus/ | haten /hatən/ | magatus /maɡatus/ | saba /saba/ |
| Hello | — /—/ | marayas /maɾajas/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | assalamu alaikum /assaˈlamu ʔaˈlajkum/ | uninang /uninaŋ/ |
| Thank you | — /—/ | lalumahan /lalumahan/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | sukran /ˈsukɾan/ | uninang /uninaŋ/ |
| Good | nngi /nŋi/ | kapah /kapah/ | — /—/ | paaguh /paːɡuh/ | — /—/ | mapiya /maˈpija/ | masial /masial/ |
| New | tasu /tasu/ | baluhay /baluhaj/ | *baqeRuh /baqeRuh/ | — | xias /xias/ | bagu /baˈɡu/ | bahlu /baɬu/ |
| Red | tebari /təbaʀi/ | sumanah /sumanah/ | *ma-iRaq /ma-iRaq/ | bidayak /bidajak/ | lubahing /lubahiŋ/ | maliga /maˈliɡa/ | madanghas /madaŋhas/ |
| White | busar /busaʀ/ | sanglac /saŋlatʃ/ | *ma-putiq /maputiq/ | — | risilaw /ɾisilaw/ | maputi /maputiʔ/ | maduhlas /maduɬas/ |
| Black | tengen /təŋən/ | lumeniʼ /luməniʔ/ | *qeCeŋeN /qeCeŋeN/ | — | terehen /təɾəhən/ | maitem /maˈʔitəm/ | matahdung /matahduŋ/ |
| Green | puli /puli/ | langdaway /laŋdawaj/ | — | — | tululik /tululik/ | gadung /ˈɡaduŋ/ | masanglav /masaŋlav/ |
| Blue | puli /puli/ | sumilaway /sumilawaj/ | — | — | — | biru /ˈbiru/ | masanglav /masaŋlav/ |
| Computer | tiannaw /tiannaw/ | tingnaw /tiŋnaw/ | — | — | — | kompyuter /komˈpjutɛr/ | tinnau /tinnau/ |
| Sugar | waneng /waˈnəŋ/ | waneng /wanəŋ/ | — | — | — | mamis /maˈmis/ | kamasia /kamasia/ |
| Orange | mulu /mulu/ | — | — | — | — | — | izuk /izuk/ |
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