Antambahoaka dialect
| Antambahoaka | |
|---|---|
| Fizakana Antembahôky | |
| Native to | |
| Ethnicity | Antambahoaka |
Native speakers | 118,000[1] |
Austronesian
| |
| |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | plt |
| Glottolog | anta1260 |
| Linguasphere | 31-LDA-ba |
Antambahoaka (pronunciation: ⓘ) is a dialect of Malagasy[2] spoken by the Antambahoaka people in the region of Vatovavy.
Classification
The Antambahoaka dialect is a member of the Austronesian languages family, within the Malayo-Polynesian languages branch. It is part of the Barito languages group, specifically the Eastern Barito subgroup.
Antambahoaka belongs to the Central-Eastern Malagasy dialect cluster and is associated with the Plateau Malagasy division. [3]
Location
Its geographical range corresponds mainly to the administrative districts of Mananjary and Nosy Varika in the Vatovavy Region in Southeastern Madagascar.[4][5]
Characteristics
The Antambahoaka dialect shares notable linguistic features with the Northern Tanala and Southern Betsimisaraka.[6]
| Gloss | Antambahoaka | Northern Tanala | Southern Betsimisaraka |
|---|---|---|---|
| one | raika | raika | Iraika |
| I | iaho | iaho | izaho |
| we (inclusive) | antsena | antsena | antsena |
| We (exclusive) | Ahay | Ahay | Zahay |
| only | mi | avao | mi |
| all | maro be / aby | maro be / aby | jiaby |
| to tell | mizaka | mizaka | mizaka |
| above | agnambo | ambony | agnambo |
| now | niane | niany | niane |
Vocabulary
| English | Malagasy standard | Antambahoaka |
|---|---|---|
| We/Us | Isika | Antsena |
| Who | Iza | Zovy |
| All | Rehetra | Maro be |
| Also/Only | Ihany koa/Ihany | Mi |
| That | Izay | Zegny |
| Like | Ohatrany | Kara |
| Even | Na | Ndre |
| If | Raha | Raha/Laha |
| After | Aoriana | Afara |
| One | Isa/Iray | Isa/Raika |
| Fruit | Voa | Isiny |
| Jackfruit | Ampalibe | Ampalibe |
| To hide | Afenina | Avony |
| I love/like | Tiako | Teako |
| I don't like/love | Tsy tiako | Tsy teako |
Writing System
Antambahoaka dialect is one of the Malagasy varieties that were historically written using the Arabic-derived Arabico-Malagasy script, alongside that of the Antemoro and Tanosy. This script was primarily used for magical and divinatory purposes.[7]
References
- ↑ "Antambahoaka in Madagascar". Joshua Project. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ↑ Grimes, Barbara F. (2000). Ethnologue: Languages of the World (14th ed.). Summer Institute of Linguistics. p. 293. ISBN 9780883128152.
- ↑ Réussir vos projets d’affaires en Afrique (in French). Éditions L’Harmattan. 2020. p. 40.
- ↑ "Bible Translations". Islands Mission. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
- ↑ 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. - ↑ "Recensements urbains : Ambositra – Ambalavao – Mananjary – Manakara – Farafangana" (PDF). Bibliothèque numérique de la statistique publique (INSEE). p. 32. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ↑ 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. 313–314.