Rusenu language
| Rusenu | |
|---|---|
| Region | easternEast Timor |
| Extinct | Unknown, likely 20th century |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | None(mis) |
| Glottolog | None |
Rusenuis a virtually extinctPapuan languagediscovered in 2007. It was spoken in the east of what is nowEast Timor.
Rusenu was discovered accidentally by the Dutch-Timorese linguistAone van Engelenhoven,who was studying a language calledMakuva,thought since the 1950s to be extinct.[1]Just as he was about to leave for the Netherlands, he was informed about the existence of a language called Rusenu. There was said to be only one elderly woman "who had some knowledge of it."[2]He gave his tape recorder to his informant, who subsequently interrogated the women and her son. She remembered a nursery rhyme, which she was unable to interpret (as was her entire tribe). Her son could count to ten in the language. After Van Engelenhoven analysed and transcribed the recording, he concluded that Rusenu, "albeit remotely related toFataluku,is a separate language. "[2]The speakers of Rusenu were also claimed to have been responsible for the several thousand years oldrock drawingson East Timor,[1]in theIle Kére Kére caves.[3]
Van Engelenhoven reports this discovery triggered rumors about other languages that have survived to date as cants, and hopes to discover some more unknown East Timorese languages in the near future.[2]
References[edit]
- ^abvan Wayenburg, Bruno (2007-04-04)."Raadselachtig Rusenu: Taalkundige ontdekt taalgeheimen en geheimtalen op Oost-Timor"(in Dutch).VPRONoorderlicht. Archived fromthe originalon 2009-08-04.Retrieved2009-03-11.
- ^abcvan Wayenburg, Bruno (2007-09-13)."Sprankje hoop voor talenvorsers: Nieuw ontdekte taal Rusenu alweer bijna uitgestorven"(in Dutch).VPRONoorderlicht. Archived fromthe originalon 2010-09-08.Retrieved2009-03-11.
- ^Hagers, Steven (2007-03-20)."Een vergeten taal op Oost-Timor"(in Dutch). Kennislink. Archived fromthe originalon 2008-04-17.Retrieved2009-03-11.
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