Kodi language


Kodi is a Sumba language of Indonesia. The population figure may include Gaura, which Ethnologue counts as a dialect of both the Lamboya and Kodi languages. Kodi is an Austronesian language that is mainly spoken in Nusa Tenggara Timur province, the western part of the island of Sumba in eastern Indonesia. An alternate name for Kodi is Kudi and dialects of the language include Kodi Bokol, Kodi Bangedo, Nggaro and is most alike to Wejewa. With only approximately 20,000 speakers, the Kodi language is an endangered language.

Classification

Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Sumba-Hawu, Sumba, Kodi-Gaura.

History

The Kodi language is derived from the Melanesian and Austronesian languages since its inhabitants arrived in Sumba in the 1500s. The Kodi society can be described as “isolated from history” since being colonized by the Dutch empire during the 1800s. The Kodi people live remotely in West Sumba located in Eastern Indonesia without a political leader.

Geographic distribution

Kodi is spoken in Nusa Tenggara Timur Province; west Sumba located in Eastern Indonesia.

Dialects/varieties

Kodi has a population of approximately 20,000 speakers. Other known names and dialects of Kodi include: Kodi Bangedo, Kodi Bokol, Kudi, Nggaro, Nggaura. May be most similar to Wejewa.

Sound system

has a short Biblical story spoken in Kodi language .

Vocabulary

habali a mekena - returning the honor
ngara - renown
meke - honor
witti wyulla - the feet of the moon
limya lodo - than hand of the sun

Examples

The people of Kodi perform an annual ritual in which a thanks giving ceremony is held. Below is a video encompassing this event, with continual audio of the language: