Bajau, West Coast
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A language of Malaysia
Ethnic population: 210,000 (2010 census). Total users in all countries: 10,700.
Sabah: Kudat district, Banggi Island, Telutu’ village; Pitas district, south Marudu bay, mainly Dalima’, Jambangan, Kanibungan, Layag-Layag, Mapan-Mapan, Mausar, Mengkapon, Mengkubau Laut, Pantai Laut, and Sibayan Laut villages; west coast scattered from Kuala Penyu to Kudat districts, mainly Kota Belud and Tuaran towns.
6b (Threatened).
Kota Belud, Putatan, Papar, Banggi, Sandakan, Pitas, Kawang. More structural diversity than other Borneo languages. Related to but distinct from East Coast Bajau languages of Malaysia and the Philippines, and Indonesian Bajau [bdl] (1977 K. Pallesen). Less than 65% intelligibility with Southern Sama [ssb]. Papar dialect used in national broadcasting. May be more than 1 language.
SVO and VSO word orders; 3 voice system (actor voice, undergoer voice, ‘true passive’).
All domains except Education. Some young people, all adults. Some youth delay using the language until their early teens, when they are driven by social expectations of adulthood if they stay in the village. Positive attitudes. All also use Sabah Malay [msi]. A few also use English [eng]. Also use Mapun [sjm]. Also use Tatana [txx]. Used as L2 by Brunei [kxd], Bugis [bug], Iranun [ilm], Kadazan Dusun [dtp], Lotud [dtr], Mapun [sjm], Papar [dpp], Southern Sama [ssb].
Literacy rate in L1: 20%. Literacy rate in L2: 80% Standard Malay [zsm]. Radio. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Agency: Persatuan Bahasa dan Budaya Bajau Sama Sabah (BSBB).
Muslim.