Minangkabau language

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{{language |name=Minangkabau |nativename=Baso Minangkabau |states=Indonesia, Malaysia |region=West Sumatra (Indonesia), Riau (Indonesia), Negeri Sembilan (Malaysia) |speakers=6,500,000 |familycolor=Austronesian |fam2=Malayo-Polynesian |fam3=Nuclear Malayo-Polynesian |fam4=Sunda-Sulawesi |fam5=Malayic |fam6=Malayan |fam7=Para-Malay |iso2=min|iso3=min}}

The Minangkabau language (autonym: Baso Minang(kabau); Indonesian: Bahasa Minangkabau) is an Austronesian language, spoken by the Minangkabau-people of West Sumatra, in the western part of Riau and in several cities throughout Indonesia by migrated Minangkabau, who often trade or have a restaurant. It is also spoken in a part of Malaysia.

Due to great grammatical similarities between the Minangkabau language and Malay, there is some controversy regarding the relationship between the two. Some see Minangkabau as a dialect of Malay, while others think of Minangkabau as a proper (Malay) language.

1 Malaysia
2 Dialects
3 Examples
4 Literature

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Malaysia

Besides West Sumatra and western Riau, Minangkabau is also spoken in Malaysia, in the Negeri Sembilan province. Ancestors of the inhabitants of this region originate from the Minang-land (Ranah Minang) in Sumatra. The language is also a lingua franca along the western coastal region of the province of North Sumatra, and is even used in parts of Aceh, where the language is called Aneuk Jamee.

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Dialects

The Minangkabau language has several dialects, sometimes differing between nearby villages (e.g. separated by a river). In everyday communication between Minangkabau people of different regions, the Padang-dialect (Baso Padang or Baso Urang Awak "our (people's) language") is often used and has become a kind of standard.

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Examples

Baso Minangkabau:	Sarang kayu di rimbo tak samo tinggi, kok kunun manusia (expression)
Bahasa Indonesia:	Pohon di rimba tidak sama tinggi, apalagi manusia
English:	The trees in the jungle are not (all) of the same height, let alone the people.

Baso Minangkabau:	Co a kongcek baranang co itu inyo (expression)
Bahasa Indonesia:	Dia berenang seperti katak
English:	He swims like a frog. (doing something without having a goal)

Baso Minangkabau:	Indak buliah mambuang sarok disiko!
Bahasa Indonesia:	Tidak boleh membuang sampah di sini!
English:	It is not allowed to dump garbage here!