Ngaju

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A language of Indonesia

ISO 639-3
nij
Alternate Names
Biadju, Dayak Ngaju, Ngadju, Ngaja, Ngaju Dayak, Southwest Barito
Population

890,000 (2003).

Location

Central Kalimantan Province. Upper reaches or headwaters of Kapuas, Kahayan, Katingan, and Mentaya rivers.

Language Maps
Language Status

3 (Wider communication).

Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Greater Barito, West, South
Dialects

Ba’amang (Bara-Bare, Sampit), Kahayan, Kahayan Kapuas, Katingan Ngaju, Katingan Ngawa, Mantangai (Oloh Mangtangai), Pulopetak. Related to Bakumpai [bkr]. Lexical similarity: 75% with Bakumpai [bkr], 62% with Kohin [kkx], 50% with Ot Danum [otd], 35% with Banjar [bjn].

Language Use

Widely used for trade in most of Kalimantan, from Barito to Sampit rivers, east of Barito languages, and north in Malawi River region.

Language Development
Taught in primary schools. Taught as a subject in Palangkaraya since 1988 (Masinambow and Haenen 2002). Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1858–2005.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Ngaju
Writing
Latin script.