Babatana language

Babatana, also spelled Mbambatana, is the principal indigenous language of Choiseul Province, Solomon Islands. Although native to the South Choiseul coastline area between Sepa and the Manggo Bay area, the use of this language has spread across much of Choiseul Island and it is generally understood, much like Solomon Islands Pijin, across the province as a second or third language.

Babatana
East Choiseul
Native toSolomon Islands
Native speakers
7,100 (1999)[1]
Dialects
  • Sisingga (Sisiqa)
Language codes
ISO 639-3baa
Glottologsout3208

Phonology

The following represents the Sisiqa dialect:

Consonants
Bilabial Alveolar Post-
alveolar		 Velar
Plosive voiceless p t k
voiced b d dʒ ɡ
Fricative voiceless s
voiced β z ɣ
Nasal m n ŋ
Trill r
Lateral l
  • Voiced stops are typically plainly released word-initially, but prenasalized [ᵐb ⁿd ᵑɡ] when intervocalically.
  • The fricative /z/ can be heard as an affricate [dz] in free variation within word-initial position.

Vowels
Front Central Back
Close i ə u
Mid e o
Open a
  • The central vowel /ə/ can vary between three sounds [ə], [ɨ] and [ø].[2]

Simple expressions

Good morning = Marisasa noe

Good afternoon = Kinaka noe

Good evening = Vilu noe

Good night = Kuse noe

Let's go fishing = Me mada la pepeko

How much = Ava via

Many = Taba

No worries = Manöe zirapeta

I'm hungry = Ra ko sanqo

I'm full = Ra ko kuma

Don't eat it = Kasi goki tini

I'd like to swim = Ra ko soko ma senge

I'd like to dive = Ra ko soko ma kujulu

I'm going to sleep = Ra ma la pam

Come here = Zo me gati

Go away = Zo

Bring ... here = vame gati...

Take ... away = Qisu la ...

Leave it = To'ro

I like ... = Ra ko so'ko ...

I see ... = Kori ...

I don't see ... = Kamarinqu ...

It's too hot = Sa vila varuka

The sun is too hot = Kiku sa vila varuka

Where are you going? = Bemolae?

Bad boy = So roka (usually said in jest with suitable tone)

Commands/Verbs

Go = Zola

Come = Zome

Quick = Dada

Slow = Kurki

Easy = Samao

Run = Jekele

Wait = Piri

Jump = Soqa

Out = Jolo

Shout = Vukulu

Tell him = Pijoni

Numbers

1. Koke

2. Kere

3. Tulu

4. Vati

5. Lima

6. Vonomo

7. Vitu

8. Viu

9. Zia

10. Mano

20. Karabete

30. Tolo Ngonu

40. Kereduki

50. Neqo

60. Neqo mano

70. Neqo karabete

80. Neqo tulungunu

90. Neqo kereduki

100. Koke vubi

1000. Koke Mau

Other vocabulary

Food = Gaki

Garden = Baroe

Cassava = Tovioko

Pineapple = Kanapo

Sweet potato = Sisu

Taro = To'ka (pronounced Turka)

Yam = Noba

Pumpkin = Duru

Corn = Lezu

Banana = Siku

Ripe = Musu

Betelnut = Kasu

Sour/Bitter = Paza

It smells = Sanabu

Bad smell = Nabusakata

Fish = Koete

Shark = Bursa

Bonito = Reka

Crocodile = Poku

Kingfish = Tangere

Barracuda = Ghalu

Marlin = Viruviru

Fishing line = Tali

Hook = Jopa pipiko

Bait = Mamutu

Reef = Pedaka

Dive = Kojulu

Coral = Laji

Sea Cucumber = Bu

Clam shell = Meka

Shell = Banga

River = Vuru

Rain = Murga

Wind = Vovosele

Cyclone = Sokoro

Sea = Masi

Fresh water = Bi

Island = Nunu

Mountain = Supu

Sand beach = Korokone

Sky = Mamalurkana

Cloud = Toki

Sun = Ngada

Star = Siriputu

Moon = Ukene

Canoe = Mola

Paddle = Kapo

House = Toke / Pande

Ladder = Tokatoka

Kitchen = Pande kuki

Cooking pot = Sireke

Door = Patagamana

Window = Vuida

Sleep = Pam

Mosquito = Zizima

Customary terms

Gara - Creep

Colourful words

Sovisovi = Masturbation

Te : Excrement

Kede = vagina

Veje = penis

Kodolo = anus

Momo = mucus

References
  1. Babatana at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015)
  2. Ross, Malcolm (2002). Sisiqa. The Oceanic Languages: Richmond: Curzon. pp. 456–466.
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