Bara dialect

Last updated
Bara
Southern Malagasic group.jpg
Native to
Ethnicity Bara people
Native speakers
1,026,000 [1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3 bhr
Glottolog bara1369
Linguasphere 31-LDA-cg

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Bara is a dialect of Malagasy spoken by Bara people in Central and Southern Madagascar. It is a Southern Malagasy dialect. [2] [3]

Contents

Classification

Bara dialect belongs to the Austronesian language family and part of Southern malagasic subgroup alongside Southern Sakalava, Tandroy, Tanosy and Vezo. [4]

Geographic distribution

The Bara dialect is predominantly spoken in the Ihorombe region, where it serves as the primary means of communication. It is particularly popular in the city of Ihosy. The dialect is also spoken in parts of the Menabe region, in the western areas of Atsimo-Atsinanana, in a very limited portion of southern Vakinankaratra, as well as in the Anosy region—especially in the Betroka District—and in the Atsimo-Andrefana region, notably in the Beroroha District.

Characteristics

The Bara dialect displays several phonological and lexical characteristics that distinguish it from the Merina-based Standard Malagasy. These features are also shared with other southern Malagasy dialects such as Tandroy, Tanosy, Vezo, Mahafaly , and Southern Sakalava.

One notable feature is the dropping of the final -na in trisyllabic words. For example, tana is used instead of tànana (hand), tanà for tanàna (village), sofy for sofina (ear), and antety for antanety (field), the latter also common in Southern Sakalava.

There is also a tendency to substitute l for d, as in valy for vady (spouse), dily for didy (law, order), and malio for madio (clean). However, in some cases where Standard Malagasy uses l, the Bara dialect reintroduces d, as in kedikedy (Bara), while southeastern dialects use kidikidy.

The s following a t is often omitted, producing forms like raty instead of ratsy (bad).

The consonant v may be replaced by b, for example, abo for avo (high).

The consonant z is frequently dropped. Aiza (where) becomes aia, and izahay (we) becomes ahay. The pronoun izy (he/she) becomes ihy, a form typical of southern dialects such as Mahafaly, Vezo, and Southern Sakalava. Likewise, izaho (I) becomes iaho, which the Bara dialect shares with some central-eastern Malagasy dialects such as Sahafatra and Antefasy .

Words ending in -tra often become -tsy, a pattern consistent with southern Malagasy varieties.

The form anakahy is used for "mine", a feature found in both northern and southern Malagasy dialects.

The verb manelo, meaning "to ache" or "to throb", is used in Bara, while the form mañelo is found in southeastern Malagasy dialects.

For "to sit," Bara uses the verb midoboka, whereas southeastern dialects use midoboky. [5]

Vocabulary

Andro amin'gny fivola Bara (Days in the Bara language)
#BaraGloss
1TinainyMonday
2TalataTuesday
3AlarobiaWednesday
4KamisyThursday
5ZomaFriday
6SabotsySaturday
7LahadySunday
Bara Vocabulary Table with Standard Malagasy and English Gloss
#BaraStandard MalagasyGloss
Numbers & Pronouns
1RaikyIrayOne
2RoyRoaTwo
3IahayIzahayWe
4Anao / AnareoIanao / IanareoYou
5Tagnaminy / IhyAminy / Taminy / IzyHim / Her
Family & People
6OloOlonaPerson /
People /
Human
7AnakyZanakaChild /
Son /
Daughter
8AmpelaVehivavyWoman / Girl
9ValyVadyWife / Spouse
Function Words & Connectors
10LahaRahaIf
11FeFaBut
12AkoaOhatra / TahakaLike / As
13GnyNyThe
14Anany zaoIzaoNow
15NahoaNahoanaWhy
16AkôryAhoanaHow
Actions & Verbs
17MandignyMiandryTo wait
18MikaikyMiantsoTo call
19MagnefaMandoaTo pay
20TiakoTiakoI love
21AvilyAmidyFor sale
Qualities & Conditions
22MalioMadioClean
23KandaMombaSterile /
Barren
24AtitsyAntitraOld (person)
25RavoFalyHappy
26MosareNoanaHungry
Physical World & Places
27LàlaLàlanaWay / Road
28ItsyMahitsyStraight
29AmbalikyAmbadikaBehind / Outside
30TolyVitaOver / Finished
31LilyLalànaLaw
Abstract Concepts & Spiritual
32AotaFahotanaSin
33FiegnaFiainanaLife
34MasinaMasinaHoly
35FagnahyFanahySoul / Spirit
36IbilitsyAnjelyAngel
Natural World & Living Beings
37AondryOndrySheep
38TaolaTaolanaBone
39BalahazoMangahazoCassava
Objects & Material Culture
40KiviroKavinaEarrings
41TalyTadyRope

References

  1. https://joshuaproject.net/languages/bhr
  2. Molet, Louis (1957). Petit guide de toponymie malgache (PDF) (in French). Tananarive: Scientific Research Institute of Madagascar, Department of Human Sciences. pp. map (unnumbered) + p. 7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link) The map is placed before the numbered pages.
  3. Ferrand, Gabriel (1903). Essai de phonétique comparée du malais et des dialectes malgaches : thèse pour le doctorat d'université (in French). Paris: Ernest Leroux, Libraire-Éditeur. p. XLI.
  4. The Languages and Linguistics of Africa. Vol. 9. De Gruyter Mouton. 2018. p. 35.
  5. Richardson, James (1877). Lights and Shadows, Or, Chequered Experiences Among Some of the Heathen Tribes of Madagascar. London: Religious Tract Society. p. Appendix II.