Tombulu language

Tombulu
Minahasa
Native to	Indonesia
Region	northern Sulawesi
Native speakers	unknown (60,000 cited 1981)
Language family	Austronesian Malayo-Polynesian Philippine Minahasan Northwest Tombulu
Language codes
ISO 639-3	tom
Glottolog	tomb1243

Tombulu is an Austronesian language, of northern Sulawesi, Indonesia. It is a Minahasan language, a sub-group of the Philippine languages.

It is a local language of the Minahasa people tribe spoken in the city of Tomohon and in the villages under the Kota Tomohon administration such as Rurukan, Pinaras, Kumelembuai, Woloan, & Tara-Tara. It is also spoken in the villages under the Minahasa Regency administration in the Tombulu district, Tombariri district, Pineleng district, and two villages in the Sonder district; precisely Rambunan and Sawangan.

Vocabulary

Tombulu language is unique compare to the other four Minahasa language. The pronunciation of the letter "L" is what makes the Tombulu langueage unique. In the other four Minahasa language the letter "L" is pronounce as is, but in Tombulu it is pronounce as "th" of the English language.

For example: kulo meaning white would be pronounce as kutho

English	Tombulu	Pronunciation
One	Esa
Two	Zua
Three	Tellu
Four	Epat
Five	Lima
Six	Enem
Seven	Pitu
Eight	Wallu
Nine	Siou
Ten	Mapulu
Eleven	Mapulu wo Esa
Twelve	Mapulu wo Zua
Twenty	Zua nga pulu
Twenty One	Zua nga pulu wo Esa
Yes	Ene
No	Zei'kan
North	Amian
South	Timu
West	Talikuran
East	Sendangan
Hand	Lengan
Head	Ulu
Ear	Lunteng
Eye	Weweren
Stomach	Po'ot
Feet	A'e
Grandma	Nene
Grandfather	Tete
Mom	Ina
Dad	Ama
Me	Niaku
You	Niko
We	Kai
They	Sera
Him, Her	Sia
Friend	Karia
Beautiful	Fasung
Female	Wewene
Male	Tuama
Kids	K'oki
Female Teacher	Enci
Male Teacher	Engku
Bad	Lewo
Good	Le'os
Water	Zano
Shower	Lemele
Drink	Melep
School	Sumikolah
Can I have some?	Wehane toyo
Give	Wehape
Hungry	Ma'arem
Full (Kenyang)	Wesu
Eat	Kuman
Breakfast	Sumokol
Fish	Seza
Good Morning	Syambae
Good Day	Tabea
When	Sawisa
Where	Wisa
Who	Sei
Go	Mange
Stop	Mento
Sit down	Rumemez
Stand	Rumendai
Walk	Lampang
Walking	Lumampang
Let's Go	Meimo
Until Then	Teintu Mo
Because	Pah'paan
But	Ta'an
Or	Ka'pa
Very	totoz
Yesterday	Kawi'i
Today	N'endo
Tonight	Wengindo Mokan
Tomorrow	Sando
Face (Menghadap)	Sumaru
Ascend	Sumosor
Descend	Meros
Left	Kawi-i
Right	Kakan
God	Opo
Holy Spirit	Aseng Lengas

Phrases

English	Tombulu	Pronunciation
How are you?	Kura-mo?
What's your name?	Sei sia ngaranu?
Where's are you going??	Mange wisako?
What are you doing??	Ma'kura'ko?
Where are you from??	Wisako ameye?
Who is he/she?	Sei sia?
See you tomorrow	Sando mokan
How much?	Pira?
Can I have some?	Wehane toyo?
Thank you	Makase mo
I love you	Ko'rara ateku
God of The Highest	Opo Wananatas
God Almighty	Opo Wailan Wangko

Status

Tombulu language is in critical need of revitalization. It is not being spoken as a first language in its highly populated area such as Tomohon, Pineleng, and Tanawangko. Villages such as Woloan, Tara-Tara, Lolah, & Lemoh who were traditionally known as first speakers of Tombulu are not as so today. The Board of Education of the Indonesian government didn't offer any help either to the Tombulu language, or any other local languages that are in decline, because of the removal of the Muatan Lokal from the daily curriculum on all grade schools across the nation in the past few years. Muatan Lokal, if available, is a daily class which most provinces in Indonesia use to teach their new generation the local languages.

It is spoken in villages such as Kayawu, Rurukan, Kumelembuai, Pinaras, Masarang, Suluan, Kembes, Tombuluan, Rumengkor, Kali, Tondangow, Sawangan, and Rambunan all the way to the kids and once in every month, it is being use in sermons on all local churches.

At the beginning of 2013, Indonesian - Tombulu dictionary was first released and many was purchased.