Kadazandusun is spoken in the state of Sabah in the north of Borneo in Malaysia. It is a member of the North Bornean branch of the Malayo-Polynesian language family. Kadazandusun refers to the form of language standardised by the Kadazandusun Cultural Association of Sabah, which is based on the Bundu-liwan dialect spoken in Bundu and Liwan. This dialect is more or less mutally intelligible with other Dusun and Kadazan dialects, such as Coastal Kadazan and Central Dusun.
During the 20th century there has been a language shift from Kadazandusun to Malay, and the authorities in Sabah have introduced policies which aim to slow this. Kadazandusun is now taught in schools in Sabah, and there are moves to give the language official status. However, few people speak Kadazandusun as a native language. Instead, they speak Coastal Kadazan, Central Dusun or one of the other Dusunic varieties.
Information compiled by Michael Peter Füstumum
Nosusu no do tuhun ngaavi i koidu om kopiagahan doid kotinguhan om sanganu. Kikasaavan om topiumanan ginavo zioho om minooi o tumindak id piahatan do iso suvai do sunduvan i kopiobpinazan.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)
Information about Kadazandusun | Family words | Terms of endearment | Time | Weather words
Information about Kadazandusun
https://www.unesco.org/archives/multimedia/document-1768
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kadazan-Dusun
https://www.flyingdusun.com/004_Features/024_KDlanguage.htm
http://www.language-archives.org/language/dtp
https://www.sil.org/resources/search/language/dtp
Kadazandusun Language Foundation
https://www.klf2.com/en
Belait, Bonggi, Central Dusun, Coastal Kadazan, Idaʼan, Kadazandusun, Kelabit, Lun Bawang, Melanau, Rejang, Tombonuwo
Languages written with the Latin alphabet
Page last modified: 08.08.25
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