Belait

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A language of Brunei

ISO 639-3
beg
Alternate Names
Balait Jati, Lemeting, Metting, Tau’ kitah
Population

1,240 (2004 J. Leclerc).

Location

Belait district: scattered; Tutong district: Kampung Kiudang.

Language Maps
Language Status

7 (Shifting).

Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, North Borneo, North Sarawakan, Berawan-Lower Baram, Lower Baram, Central, A
Dialects

None known. Lexical similarity: 54% with Tutong [ttg].

Typology

SVO, VSO; prepositions; noun head initial; classifiers (human, non-human); dual number; actor and undergoer voice; aspect-mood markers; causative prefix; 19 consonants and 5 vowels; inclusive/exclusive pronouns.

Language Use

Shifting to Brunei Malay [kxd]. Adults only. Most also use Brunei [kxd] (Clynes 2005).

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Belait
Writing

Unwritten [Qaax].

Other Comments

Recognized indigenous group. Muslim Belait are Malay in orientation. Non-Muslims retain their Belait identity more. Heavy intermarriage with Bisaya and Chinese. Muslim.

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