Gayo language

Gayo is an Austronesian language spoken by some 100,000 people (2000) in the mountainous region of Aceh around Central Aceh, Bener Meriah and Gayo Lues regencies. It is classified as belonging to the Western Malayo-Polynesian branch of the Austronesian languages, but is not closely related to other languages. Ethnologue lists Deret, Lues, Lut, and Serbejadi-Lukup as dialects.

Gayo
Basa Gayo
Native toIndonesia
RegionSumatra
Native speakers
100,000 (2000 census)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-2gay
ISO 639-3gay
Glottologgayo1244
The map of Gayo language in Northern Sumatra.

Gayo is distinct from other languages in Aceh. The art and culture of the Gayo people is also significantly different compared with other ethnic groups in Aceh.

In 1907, G.A.J. Hazeu wrote a first Gayo–Dutch dictionary for the colonial authorities of the Dutch East Indies.[2]

References

  1. Gayo at Ethnologue (19th ed., 2016)
  2. Gajosch-Nederlandsch Woordenboek, by G.A.J. Hazeu, Landsdrukkerij Batavia 1907. It is available online as a Google scan.

Further reading

  • Eades, Domenyk (2005). A Grammar of Gayo: A Language of Aceh, Sumatra (PDF). Pacific Linguistics 567. Pacific Linguistics. doi:10.15144/pl-567. hdl:1885/146732. ISBN 978-0-85883-553-5.
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