drg ISO 639

Momogun Autonyms

Rungus

  • Geography

    MY Sabah: Beluran, Kota Marudu, Kudat, and Pitas districts.
  • Language Cloud

A language of Malaysia

drg
Dayak Laut, Dusun Dayak, Kadazan, Melobong Rungus, Melubong Rungus, Memagun, Memogun, Roongas, Rungus Dusun
Momogun
55,000 (2009 PCS), decreasing. 10,000 monolinguals (2015 P. Porodong, F. Akiam). Ethnic population: 60,000 (2010 census).
Sabah: Beluran, Kota Marudu, Kudat, and Pitas districts.
Malaysia: Sabah
6b (Threatened).
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, North Borneo, Sabahan, Dusunic, Dusun
Gandahon, Gonsomon, Nuluw, Pilapazan (Central Rungus, Rungus Tanga). Gonsomon and Nuluw most distinctive dialects. Gandahon is less distinct. Pilapazan uses elements of the other three dialects. Lexical similarity among dialects within 86%–96%.
SVO.
90% L1 speakers. Mixed use: Home, Friends, Religion, Work. Some young people, all adults. Positive attitudes. Most also use Sabah Malay [msi]. Some also use Standard Malay [zsm]. A few also use Hakka Chinese [hak]. A few also use Iranun [ilm]. A few also use Kadazan Dusun [dtp]. A few also use Kimaragang [kqr]. A few also use Tombonuo [txa]. Used as L2 by Hakka Chinese [hak], Iranun [ilm], Kadazan Dusun [dtp], Kimaragang [kqr], Tombonuo [txa].
Literacy rate in L1: 80%. Literacy rate in L2: 85% in Standard Malay [zsm]. Literacy rate in L1: low for those over 45; much higher for those under 30. Literacy in L2: Standard Malay [zsm] literacy higher than Rungus; school language is Standard Malay. Language of instruction in about 5 kindergartens. Literature. Radio. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible: 2014. Agency: Persatuan Momogun Rungus Sabah (SAMORA), Rungus Cultural Association (RCA), Sabah Rungus Cultural and Heritage (SARUCHA), Persatuan Rungus Pitas (PISAAN), Pertubuhan Rungus Malaysia, Yayasan Rungus (Rungus Foundation).
Latin script [Latn].
Reside on the Bengkoka and Kudat peninsulas surrounding Marudu bay and identify themselves by which side of the bay they come from. Self-identify as Momogun and have complex internal social and ethnic relationships (Appell 1965). There is a strong sense of Rungus ethnic identity across all dialect groups. Christian, Muslim, traditional religion.
OLAC resources in and about Rungus