Bengkulu or Bengkulu Malay is a Malayic language spoken on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, around the city of Bengkulu. It is more closely related to other Malay variants in Sumatra such as Col, Jambi Malay and Palembang Malay as well Minangkabau spoken in neighbouring West Sumatra than to the Rejang language, which is also spoken in the province.

Phonology

Bengkulu language using Latin alphabet and sometimes using Rejang script.

Consonants

Labial Alveolar Palatal Velar Glottal
Stops p p - b b t t - d d tɕ c - dʑ j k k - ɡ g ʔ k (coda)
Nasals m m n n ɲ ny, n (before c/j) ŋ ng
Fricatives s s ɕ si (h h) (coda)
Lateral l l
Tap ɾ r
Semi-vowel j y w w

Letter F, SY, V and Z are used in loanwords of Indonesian.

Vowels

Front Central Back
Close i i u u
Middle ɛ e/é ə e ɔ o
Open a~ɑ a

This language diphthongs are ai, au, ia and ua (where "ia" and "ua" used in loanwords).

References

  1. ^ "Bengkulu in Indonesia". Joshua Project. Retrieved 20 May 2019.