UABLABAN OF WEST TIMOR By Prisco Virgo

THE WORD LABAN According to the experts, the language of Atn (Atoni) tribe who inhabited the western part of Timor island, called Dawan language. But in this paper, I want to introduce a more genuine expression and more in line with the tongue of the local sayings about their own language, namely: Uablaban. The first reason I decided to select the invented (metathesis) word, Uablaban to mention the language of Atnlaban (Dawanese) in addition to the other titles such as Laibmeto', Laismeto', Hanmeto' , and Uabmeto', because the adjective Meto' (dry, barren) that explain the words labit , lasi, hanaf, uabat , more point to the situation of Timor island territory th at is generally dry and barren. And it will not make any sense when Laibmeto', Laismeto', Hanmeto', Uabmeto' so understood or translated into the Indonesian language as: The language of dried or barren. Then said that meto' is more appropriately used with the word Pah (region) in the form of a compound word: Pahmeto' as a residential area of Atnlaban (Dawanese). The second reason, in the Timorese myth, it is said that Na Laban is the ancient ancestor of Atnlaban . So the Laban name appears as Dawan . This is a variation of the user's speech to the Tetun for Laban , so long as this language called the Dawan language. The letters [ d ] and [ w ] do not appear in the vocabulary of the language of Atnlaban . My hope, may the use of the 'new' word, Uablaban in this paper, become one of the rediscovery of the eff orts which during the original expression is not realized, even completely forgotten by the native speakers of Uablaban for their own.

Amnaistinan tnat nak onan i ba: "Hit i atnlaban kit. Hitat saun tem toko Na Laban. Hit laibta nana Uablaban. Hit paha nana es pahmeotn funam natef. Nana in esan tom (The elders said this my friend: We are Labanese people because our ancestors named Laban. Uablaban is our language. And our region is pahmeto' entirely. And that is the truth).
Third, the equivalent w ord for a noun that referred to the word language, as a basic word, not in the vocabulary of the language of Atnlaban . Because there are at least seven nouns or metathesis words in the Uablaban , that have the equal sense of the word language, ie, (1)at: Language in the sense of talks with limited coverag e among traditional elders when discussing serious things about genealogy and tribal customs. (2)hanaf: Beep or sound, but also often understandable as language bec ause when speaking, human issue s noise or sound from his throat . The people of Tetun language called it as: Lian, noise or sound. (3)labit: Language in the sense of ability to speak other languages rather than Laban, foreign languages. (4)lasi: Language with a nuance that is used in places as tribal religious ceremony and indigenous justi ce. Therefore, lasi in one form, lasit, mean things, the case, festivity. (5)molok: Language of the conversation about light things in daily life. (6)takanab: Language that used in the traditional world of art and literature of Atnlaban . (7)uabat: Language used in the official meetings and is often used pointing the language system used by Atnlaban. Therefore I choose to wear uabat as an equivalent word for the word language in this paper, without the possibil ity to discussed further. When word Uabat (language) combi ned with word Laban (Dawan), then forming the metathesis word, Uablaban (Dawan Language). In general, the Uablaban is spoken by less than one million people , the majority of whom are residents of the native island of West Timor or Timor NTT, Indonesia. The distribution of Uablaban , ranging from Biboki in the border region of the North Central Timo r regency near Belu in the Eastern part of West Timor, to the region of Amarasi at Kupang Regency in the Western part of West Timor. Uablaban is also the mother tongue of Ambeno' society in the 'special' region of Oekusi, which now becomes one district of the state of

East Timor (Timor Leste). When the Portuguese was still in power in Oekusi, the y called Uabalaban as Vaikn' , the pronunciation of the Portuguese for the word Baikn' , which means people as the people of Kaesmetan in Oekusi use it for the word of atn . Because there are so many dialects in this uabat (language), then up to now there is no one dialect was used regularly as a form of writing standard. Therefore, I chos e to write this observations based on the dialect that I have known since my childhood, namely Oelolok dialect, a dialect in Pah nsan, North Central Timor regency. As a comparat ive material to enrich the observations for scientific researchers who are interested in the future, other dialects will be referred to cursory in one part of the paper. RULES OF PRONUNCIATION The pronunciation rules in the Uablaban , in general use s one letter one sound system (same sound value). This means that every letter is in one word must be sounded. For example: fattu, pronounced: f a t t u . There are no letters are not sound (silent letter) as in English. VOWELS Vowel [ a ] for example, still s ounded [ a ], both in word atu (charcoal) and the word ata' (a fruit) and knows no such sound systems to exchange letters in English: [ u ] just rung [ ], for example on the word cut and tolled [ eu ] on the word cute. 8 pieces of vowels of Uablaban familiar with single and 18 double vowels as shown in the list below: Single Vowels a - opened [ a ], pronounced [ a ] as in word: abas - yarn, cotton - closed [ ], pronounced [ ] as in words: u - I e - opened [ e ], pronounced [ e ] as in words: eno'- doors, gates - closed [ ], pronounced [ ] as in words: to'- bedbugs i - pronounced [ i ], as in words: inuh - necklace o - opened [ o ], pronounced [ o ] as in words: onen - prayer - closed [ ], pronounced [ ] as in words: n - bees, honey u - pronounced [ u ] as in words: ut - flour Double Vowels ae - pronounced [ ae ] as in the words: aen, ukaen, pakae ai - pronounced [ ai ] as in the words: aija, bait, pai i - pronounced [ i ] as in the words: it, suti, pi ao - pronounced [ ao ] as in the words: aof, paot, unaob au - pronounced [ au ] as in the words: aulka, saup, kaus u - pronounced [ u ] as in the words: ut, sut, ntu ea - pronounced [ ea ] as in the words: eas, teas, bea, bea' eo - pronounced [ eo ] as in the words: eo, teol, maneo o - pronounced [ o ] as in the words: op, ton, sn ia - pronounced [ ia ] as in the words: ia, bian, kia' io - pronounced [ io ] as in the words: liol, pit, pio iu - pronounced [ iu ] as in the words: iun, tiut, kiu oa - pronounced [ oa ] as in the words: noah, foa' oe - pronounced [ oe ] as in the words: oef, boen, makoe - pronounced [ e] as in the words: lna, pp, s ua - pronounced [ ua ] as in the words: uas, kuan, utua ue - pronounced [ ue ] as in the words: uela, kuet, pansue ui - pronounced [ ui ] as in the words: uisneno, umuin, tui CONSONANTS

All consonants pronounced like a consonant sound in the Latin alphabet. According to my observations, there are only eleven consonants, ten consonants and one sound of hamzah or a glottal-stop that most active in used in the Uablaban. I call the se eleven consonant as single consonant. In addition to them, there are also 29 double consonants. Single Consonants b - pronounced [ b ] as in the words: bok, kabut, hakeb f - pronounced [ f ] as in the words: fani, safat, lukef h - pronounced [ h ] as in the words: haot, bahan, neh k - pronounced [ k ] as in the words: kalo, pakut, elak l - pronounced [ l ] as in the words: laku, halak, tekal m - pronounced [ m ] as in the words: muis, umeke, ekam n - pronounced [ n ] as in the words: noah, kanu, oken p - pronounced [ p ] as in the words: panaf, tepos, pp s - pronounced [ s ] as in the words: suti, asu, nios t - pronounced [ t ] as in the words: tap, sutai, lt ' - pronounced [ ' ] as in the words: 'belo,'taka', atu' Notes: (1). The eleventh consonant, hamzah or glottal -stop, [ ' ] , making the Uablaban as one of the highly unique pressurized language among the langua ges of the other regions in the South East of the Indonesian islands . For example, the pronunciation of the word oko. Without a glottal-stop, [ ' ], in the end of this word, oko means porridge or I come from. But when pronounced with a glottal -stop, oko', the first two meanings mentioned above had been transformed into a single new meaning, the basket. (2). On one of the changes (conjugated) verb, hamzah or glottal-stop [ ' ] signs a replacement of the first singular pronoun, u ( I ). For example: u' tup (I sleep). In daily conversation, au' tup is often pronounced [ 'tup ]. So without a glottal-stop, tup means sleep. But if there is glottal-stop, 'tup means I sleep. Double Consonants bn - pronounced [ bn ] as in word: bnak - wealth fk - pronounced [ fk ] as in word: fkun - star ft - pronounced [ ft ] as in word: ftuis - former graffiti cl - pronounced [ kb ] as in word: kbate - cocoon kf - pronounced [ kf ] as in word: kfatu' - freezing kh - pronounced [ kh ] as in word: khanit - excavation kl - pronounced [ kl ] as in word: klaot - arrows km - pronounced [ km ] as in word: kmr' - planthopper kn - pronounced [ kn ] as in word: knino' - holy, sacred kp - rung [kp] as in word: kpete' - destroyed ks - pronounced [ ks ] as in word: ksut - excavating kt - pronounced [ kt ] as in word: ktete' - composition mk pronounced [ mk ] as in word: mkakat - opened ml - pronounced [ ml ] as in word: mlila' - joy mn - pronounced [ mn ] as in word: mnatu' - gold ms - pronounced [ ms ] as in word: msenat - glut pn - pronounced [ pn ] as in word: pnia' pariah fruit sb - pronounced [ sb ] as in word: sbot - cigarette sf - pronounced [ sf ] as in word: sfut - puffs sk - pronounced [ sk ] as in word: skaef - cache sl - pronounced [ sl ] as in word: slala' - disclosure sm - pronounced [ sm ] as in word: smanaf - soul sn - pronounced [ sn ] as in word: snaen - sand sp - pronounced [ sp ] as in word: spepe' - noise

st - pronounced [ st ] as in word: stunat - stumble tf - pronounced [ tf ] as in word: tfekas - teared tk - pronounced [ tk ] as in word: tkenab - things supine tl - pronounced [ tl ] as in word: tlaka' - abroad tn - pronounced [ tn ] as in word: tnana' - middle Switching Consonant s I call these consonants as switching consonants because they really do not exist in Uablaban pronunciation, but because there are in the Indonesian language and used by the Labanese native speaker, it often happens, these consonants are replaced by another consonant s. Included in this type of consonant also, some consonants that can not stand as initial consonant s, but it appears as the middle consonant s in certain words because of the symptoms of sound correspondence. [ C ] There is not in Ubalaban pronunciation. Sounded like in the original word. For example: "cari" (Indonesian, search). But it often happens, th e consonant [ c ] is sounded as [ s ] by native speakers, "sari". [ D ] There is not in Ubalaban pronunciation. I argue, the word "Dawan" is a variant pronunciation by the Tetun speaking people for the word "Laban", beca use the letter [ d ] at the word Dawan and the letter [ l ] at the word Laban, are both apiko -dental consonants. The letter [ w ] on Dawan and [ b ] at Laban, are both bilabial consonants. Examples bellow can be seen on variations of speech to some particular word s in the language of TT (Tetun Terik ) and UL (Uablaban ) to support the this opinion. Middle consonant: - Undan (TT) - Ulan (UL) rain Initial consonant: - Dalan (TT) - Lalan (UL) path Middle consonant: - kdok (TT) - 'lo (UL) far Initial consonant: - Derok (TT) - Lelo' (UL) orange [G] Nothing in pronunciation UL. Sounded lik e the original word. For example: "gunung" (mountain). But for many native speakers who never learned to write and read, [g] consonant tends to be converted into [k]: "kunung". And it appears as a center consonant as correspondency sound of the letter [ n ] in word nenno: [ nenggoa ] (day). [J] Rarely found as an initial consonant, except only in words [ jak ] (TT for jackfruit). Emerged as central as correspondency consonant sounds with letters: l - r y. Please find the example in the following words: aijao - ailao - airao - aiyao = fir bijae - bilae - birae - biyae = cow kijabas - kilabas - kirabas - kiyabas = guava naijan - nailan - nairan - naiyan = soil Of the four consonants [ j ], [ l ], [ r ], [ y ] as shown in the example above correspondency sound, only letters [ l ] can stand alone as an initial consonant. Fo r example in words such as: lalan, 'letes, lft, limat, lopo, lt, lusat, and so forth. Thus, the above list of words for example, only the words ai lao, bilae, kilabas, and nai lan eligible incorporated into the vocabulary of Uablaban. While other words have an element of [ j ], [ r ], and [ y] , just a variant sound that has been represented by the words that have an element of [ l ]. Pressure The meaning of a word in the UL is determin ed by the pressure exerted when the utter sounds on certain specific words. One emphasis could lead to the meaning of the word is different from the meaning actual words or even cause it does not mean at all (See again

the note on the bottom of the list of the single consonants). In this observation, a sign to show the sound pressure at the beginning and the end of a word, I use a glottal -stop [ ' ]. While the pressure in the middle of a word for shorten a vowel [ a ] or [ i ] for example, I write vowels pressed as follows: [ ] or [ ]. The pressure at the beginning and the end of words When a word, [ fe ] for example, pronounced without any pressure, both at the beginning or the end, it means a wife. But when the word [ fe ] is given a pressure at the beginning by adding sound hamzah [ ' ], then 'fe, will mean that I give. When the pressure is given at the end of the word, fe', it will become yet or still. Meanwhile, word of f (with closed ), meaning to open. Example in sentences: a). Inan lail fe alekot: He is a good wife. b). 'Fe maka ma sisi n ko : I give you rice and meat. c). Hit fe' lina': We're still kids. d). Ija fe': This one is not yet. e). Kaisam f nss nan: You please, do not open that door. The pressure in the middle of a word This pressure only occurs in words that have double vowels. Usually the latter vowel a given pressure (shorten sound), while the vocals a bit more before sounded longer. Note the list below: Vowel [ a/ ] are pressed at - language 'baf - roots, palace 'bat - shouts bot - peal lina' - children 'net - joke nut - decline of - cage pan - prison, cage pon - gardens, parks saf - something, someone sut - measurement Vowel [ e/ ] are pressed at - rigid, taciturn 'bat - game b - grandmother, aunt, crocodile n - stupid 'l - fire, lighter mat - see each other mot - deeds nu - wound on - I call pa - hero, executioner pun - invite uk- I close Vowel [ i ] is pressed but - hair style it - bite 'kat - childish 'ku - cup

lun - chicken shits nablan - webs tatab - we demonstrate 'tun - pens

Vowel [ o/ ] are pressed et - job, action bit - ghosts, demons f - new 'he - violin, saws l - holy ks - holding mnt - enough na - brother naklo - away pet - take 'tao - big spoon upan - I shed Vowel [ u ] is pressed buf - bump, elbow 'buf - position 'fut - puffs 'kat - basket maun - occupy mutually nun - fairytale tam - we enlarged uis - I adore ut - oppression Foreign pronunciation What I mean by foreign pronunciation is the pro nunciation used by those who are not native speakers of Uablaban. This pronunciation is first written and introduced by the researchers of culture, including language s studies. In general, they are coming from the outside. Most of these outside investigato rs, were never able to catch and understand the forms of flexion owned by Uablaban. Many times they treat Uablaban according to the rules and grammatical systems of their own languages. What else the resource persons who they interviewed, often do not full y understand the purpose of the questions the researchers asked. Even worse if the these external researchers use the translators, because in general informants living in villages could not speak Indonesian or English. So the results of th research, especi ally Uablaban as a way of writing that found in their books, are more likely to me as a pseudo-uablaban. Or can be said not the actual Uablaban. My reason, the foreign pronunciation recorded, and tend to be followed by the native, always felt awkward to the ears of the native speakers of Uablaban and even collide with the sense of the real Uablaban. Foreign pronunciation that I mean, can be seen in the list of examples of some of the following words: amarasi, should be amrasi [amaf + rasi] = region of Amrasi aina honi, should be inhn [ainaf + hn] = dear mama atoni should be atn = human, people, m an atoni ana should be atnna [atn ana'] = small man atoni dawan should be atnlaban [atn + laban] = Dawanese bani-bani should be bainbain = region of Bainbain baki tolas should be baiktolas [baki + tolas] = name of a place bana afi should be banfi' [bana afi] = name of a place in Ambeno'

bobo kase should be 'bobkase ['bobo + kase] = name of a place in Ambeno' bobo meto should be 'bobmeto' ['bobo + meto'] = name of a place in Ambeno' Dawan should be Laban = Dawan esu should be s' = mortar fafi nesu should be faifns [fafi + ns] = door for hog fatu bena should be fautbena' [fatu + bena'] = flat stone hau mau should be hauma [hau + ma] = rotten wood hau meni should be haumn (ntw.) = name of a village in Miomaof Insana should be Insan = Insana regency kefamenanu should be kefamnanu' [fefa' + mnanu'] = high cliff Kefamenanu should be Kefamnanu' = district capital of TTU kolo ton should be kolton [kolo + ton] = a season bird Kutete should be Kutet = name of the place in Ambeno' lasi tonas should be laistonas [lasi + tonas] = notification, invitation la'at manekan should be la'manekat [laat + (a)manekat] = lovely homestead leu should be l = holy, sacred leul should be ll = order lele ufe should be lelf [lele + uf] = main garden(field) masi oni should be maisn [masi' + one] = honey masi mina should be maismina' [masi' mina '] = sugar Maubesi should be Maubs (ntw.) = village Maubs (Insan ) Manu fui should be maunfui [manu + fuif] = wild chicken, partridge manu nain should be maunnain [manu + naif] = rooster Miomafo should be Miomaof = region of Miomaof nefo metan should be neofmetan [nefo + metan] = black lake Nitibe should be Nitib = village of Nitib in Ambeno' Oecusse should be Oekuis = village of Oekusi in Ambeno' oni should be n = bee, honey Passabe should be Pasab = village of Pasab in Ambeno' Sune Ufe should be Suinf [Suni + uf) = name of a place Taolin should be Taln = Taln (king's clan name in Insan) tefu should be tf = sugarcane uabat meto should be uabmeto' [uabat + meto'] = uablaban ume alekot should be uemlekot [ume + (a)lekot] = beautiful house