Brunei

Summary

Official Name: State of Brunei Darussalam
Population: 437,000
Principal Languages: Brunei, English, Standard Malay
Literacy Rate: 97% (2018 UNESCO)
International Conventions: CDE (1960), CSICH (2012), UNCRPD (2006), UNDRIP (2007)
General References: Martin 1995, Martin et al 1996, Purnama 1991, Wurm and Hattori 1981
Language Counts: The number of established languages listed for Brunei is 17. All are living languages. Of these, 7 are indigenous and 10 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 3 are institutional, 9 are developing, 1 is vigorous, and 4 are in trouble. Also listed are 3 unestablished languages.

Languages

Bajau, West Coast bdr: Scattered. Users: 10,700 in Brunei (2019). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Greater Barito, Sama-Bajaw, Sulu-Borneo, Borneo Coast Bajaw
Belait beg: Belait district: scattered; Tutong district: Kampung Kiudang. Users: 1,130 (2019). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Balait Jati, Lemeting, Metting, Tau’ kitah Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, North Borneo, North Sarawakan, Berawan-Lower Baram, Lower Baram, Central, A
Bisaya, Brunei bsb: Belait and Tutong districts: central and interior areas south of Tutong [ttg] language area; Seria town and villages near Sarawak border (Brunei dialect). Users: 37,600 in Brunei (2007 SIL). Total users in all countries: 57,600. Status: 5* (Developing). De facto language of national identity. Alternate Names: Basaya, Bekiau, Besaya, Bisaia, Bisaya, Bisaya Bukit, Bisayah, Dusun, Jilama Bawang, Jilama Sungai, Lorang Bukit, Southern Bisaya, Tutong, Visayak Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, North Borneo, Sabahan, Dusunic, Bisaya-Lotud, Southern
Brunei kxd: Widespread. Users: 270,000 in Brunei (2019), increasing. Total users in all countries: 321,000. Status: 3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language. Originated and used as trade language in the archipelago of the Brunei sultanate centuries before British protectorate (1888–1984). Used as lingua franca between ethnic groups, widely used by young people. Alternate Names: Brunei-Kadayan, “Orang Bukit” (pej.) Autonym: Brunei, Melayu Brunei, ملايو بروني‎ (Melayu Brunei) Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Malayo-Chamic, Malayic, Malay
Chinese, Hakka hak: Major cities. Users: 2,750 in Brunei (2019). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Chinese, Mandarin cmn: Major cities. Users: 12,100 in Brunei (2019). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Chinese, Min Dong cdo: Major cities. Users: 5,500 in Brunei (2019). Status: 5* (Developing). Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Chinese, Min Nan nan: Major cities. Users: 12,100 in Brunei (2019). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Banlamgi, Min Nan, Minnan Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Chinese, Yue yue: Major cities. Users: 5,760 in Brunei (2019). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Cantonese Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
English eng: Users: 139,500 in Brunei, all users. L1 users: 5,500 in Brunei (2019). L2 users: 134,000 (Crystal 2003a). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national working language (1984, Constitution, Article 82(2)). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
Hindi hin: Users: 3,900 in Brunei (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Western Hindi, Hindustani
Iban iba: Belait and Tutong districts: rural areas; Temburong district. Users: 15,800 in Brunei (2019). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Sea Dayak Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Malayo-Chamic, Malayic, Ibanic
Korean kor: Users: 33,900 in Brunei (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Koreanic
Lundayeh lnd: Temburong district: Brunei Bay to Padas, then to Baram river headwaters. 7 villages. Users: 500 in Brunei (2006 SIL). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Buri tau, Buri’ Lun Bawang, Buri’ Lun Dayeh, Lun Bawang, Lun Daya, Lun Dayah, Lun Daye, Lun Dayoh, Lundaya, Southern Murut Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, North Borneo, North Sarawakan, Dayic, Kelabitic
Malay, Standard zsm: Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1984, Constitution, Article 82(1)). Alternate Names: Bahasa Malaysia, Formal Malay, Malay, Malayu, Melayu, Melayu Baku Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Malayo-Chamic, Malayic, Malay
Melanau, Central mel: Kuala Belait town area. Users: 280 in Brunei (2006 SIL). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Belana’u, Melanau, Milanau, Milano Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, North Borneo, Melanau-Kajang, Melanau
Nepali npi: Seria district: capital city. Users: 2,120 in Brunei (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Eastern, Eastern Pahari
Penan, Eastern pez: Belait district: west of Baram river. Users: 55 in Brunei (2003 P. Sercombe). Status: 6b (Threatened). Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, North Borneo, North Sarawakan, Kayan-Kenyah, Penan
Tutong ttg: Belait district; Tutong district: Tutong town coastal area. Users: 16,600 (2006 SIL). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Tutung Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, North Borneo, North Sarawakan, Berawan-Lower Baram, Lower Baram, Central, B

Languages by Status

1 (National)

English

[eng] 1 (National). Statutory national working language (1984, Constitution, Article 82(2)). 139,500 in Brunei, all users. L1 users: 5,500 in Brunei (2019). L2 users: 134,000 (Crystal 2003a).

Malay, Standard

[zsm] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1984, Constitution, Article 82(1)).

3 (Wider communication)

Brunei

[kxd] 3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language. Originated and used as trade language in the archipelago of the Brunei sultanate centuries before British protectorate (1888–1984). Used as lingua franca between ethnic groups, widely used by young people. 270,000 in Brunei (2019), increasing. Total users in all countries: 321,000.

5 (Dispersed)

Chinese, Hakka

[hak] 5* (Dispersed). 2,750 in Brunei (2019).

Chinese, Mandarin

[cmn] 5* (Dispersed). 12,100 in Brunei (2019).

Chinese, Min Nan

[nan] 5* (Dispersed). 12,100 in Brunei (2019).

Chinese, Yue

[yue] 5* (Dispersed). 5,760 in Brunei (2019).

Iban

[iba] 5* (Dispersed). 15,800 in Brunei (2019).

5 (Developing)

Bisaya, Brunei

[bsb] 5* (Developing). De facto language of national identity. 37,600 in Brunei (2007 SIL). Total users in all countries: 57,600.

Chinese, Min Dong

[cdo] 5* (Developing). 5,500 in Brunei (2019).

Lundayeh

[lnd] 5* (Developing). 500 in Brunei (2006 SIL).

6a (Vigorous)

Melanau, Central

[mel] 6a* (Vigorous). 280 in Brunei (2006 SIL).

6b (Threatened)

Bajau, West Coast

[bdr] 6b* (Threatened). 10,700 in Brunei (2019).

Penan, Eastern

[pez] 6b (Threatened). 55 in Brunei (2003 P. Sercombe).

Tutong

[ttg] 6b (Threatened). 16,600 (2006 SIL).

7 (Shifting)

Belait

[beg] 7 (Shifting). 1,130 (2019).

Unestablished

Hindi

[hin] Unestablished. 3,900 in Brunei (2019).

Korean

[kor] Unestablished. 33,900 in Brunei (2019).

Nepali

[npi] Unestablished. 2,120 in Brunei (2019).

Maps

Brunei and Malaysia: Sarawak

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Brunei with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for Brunei is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of vitality. The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level.
The vitality levels and the color coding of the bars match the scheme used in the guide on How many languages are endangered? In this scheme, the levels and colors are as follows:
- Dark green = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Light green = Stable (EGIDS 5-6a) — The language is not being sustained by formal institutions, but It is still the norm in the home and community that all children learn and use the language.
- Red = Endangered (EGIDS 6b-9) — It is no longer the norm that children learn and use this language.
These three summary levels have been derived by grouping levels in the Expanded Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (EGIDS), which is the more fine-grained scale that Ethnologue uses to assess the status of every language in terms of development versus endangerment; see the Language Status page for a description of the levels of that scale. See also the pages on Development and Endangerment for more discussion.
Language Status Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Brunei with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for Brunei is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of development or endangerment as measured on the EGIDS scale. (See the pages on Development and Endangerment for a fuller explanation.) The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level. Consult the Status listings for Brunei in order to see the specific languages for each level.
The color coding of the bars matches the color scheme used in the summary profile graphs on the navigation maps for the site. In this scheme, the EGIDS levels are grouped as follows:
- Purple = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Blue = Developing (EGIDS 5) — The language is in vigorous use, with literature in a standardized form being used by some though this is not yet widespread or sustainable.
- Green = Vigorous (EGIDS 6a) — The language is unstandardized and in vigorous use among all generations.
- Yellow = In trouble (EGIDS 6b-7) — Intergenerational transmission is in the process of being broken, but the child-bearing generation can still use the language so it is possible that revitalization efforts could restore transmission of the language in the home.
- Red = Dying (EGIDS 8a-9) — The only fluent users (if any) are older than child-bearing age, so it is too late to restore natural intergenerational transmission through the home; a mechanism outside the home would need to be developed.
- Black = Extinct (EGIDS 10) — The language has fallen completely out of use and no one retains a sense of ethnic identity associated with the language.

Resources

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Digest of the languages of Brunei ($149.95, 25 page PDF)

Brunei

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Maps

Brunei and Malaysia: Sarawak

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile

Resources

Contributions

Editorial Action