Origins of Numerals and their Variable Forms in the Languages of Pulau Simeulue and Pulau Banyak, Aceh, Indonesia

Abstract

Enumeration in the languages of Pulau Simeulue and Pulau Banyak is a complex topic. A language survey conducted by the authors in 2016 and subsequent investigations revealed a plethora of different forms of the basic numerals from one to ten in each of the four indigenous languages, as well as in Nias spoken by newcomers from the south, depending on what is being counted. Variation is evident not only between the five languages under study, but also within each of the five languages. The variable forms arise from several independent sources. Some of the variation is deep-seated and is also found in the Formosan languages of Taiwan. Some is due to fusion of the numeral and the classifier for ‘fruit’ to form a new numeral form. However, much of the variation is due to language contact with Jamee and Indonesian. Some minor variants may best be regarded as ‘doublets’ (Blust, 2013: 278; 338-340). Other variants are explained by the presence or absence of a nasal ligature, but the source of some variants remains obscure. The result is a suite of intricate and complex numeral systems which are now under threat due to language shift. In this fluid context there appears to be considerable variation across speakers and even perhaps within the same speaker, though this remains to be thoroughly investigated. This paper presents the variation we documented through primary investigation over the period 2016 to 2019 and as documented by Ariani (2016).We attempt to trace the origins of the individual forms of the numerals in use in the languages of Pulau Simeulue and Pulau Banyak, also known as the Barrier Islands.