The Melanau–Kajang languages, or Central Sarawak languages, are a group of languages spoken in Kalimantan, Indonesia and Sarawak, Malaysia by the Kenyah, Melanau and related peoples.
Classification Smith (2017) Smith (2017)Smith, Alexander. 2017. The Languages of Borneo: A Comprehensive Classification. PhD Dissertation: University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. uses the term Central Sarawak, and puts it as an independent branch within the Greater North Borneo subgroup. He classifies the languages as follows. Melanau (Dalat, Sarikei, Mukah, Balingian, Matu, Sibu, Kanowit) Kajang (Kejaman, Sekapan, Lahanan) Punan–Müller-Schwaner Punan Punan Bah, Punan Tubu, Sajau Punan Lisum, Punan Aput, Beketan, Ukit, Buket Müller-Schwaner Hovongan Kereho, Aoheng, Seputan
Austroasiatic influence Kaufman (2018) notes that many Proto-Central Sarawak words are of likely Austroasiatic origin, including the following (Note: The Austroasiatic branch reconstructions are from Paul Sidwell's reconstructions; Proto-Pearic is from Headley (1985)Headley, Robert K. 1985. "Proto-Pearic and the classification of Pearic." In Suriya Ratanakult et al. (eds.), Southeast Asian Linguistic Studies Presented to Andre-G. Haudricourt. Institute of Language and Culture for Rural Development, Mahidol University. pp. 428-478.).Kaufman, Daniel. 2018. Between mainland and island Southeast Asia: Evidence for a Mon-Khmer presence in Borneo. Ronald and Janette Gatty Lecture Series. Kahin Center for Advanced Research on Southeast Asia, Cornell University. (handout / slides) *siaw ‘chicken’ (cf. Proto-Khasic *sʔiar; Proto-Khmuic *(s)ʔiər) *tilaŋ ‘tiger leech’ (cf. Proto-Katuic *ɟləəŋ) *(ə)liŋ ‘saliva’
Proto-Kajang words of likely Austroasiatic origin: *diə̯k ‘chicken’ (cf. Proto-Pearic *hlɛːk) *(u)bəl ‘mute’ (cf. Proto-Bahnaric *kmlɔː)
Proto-Müller-Schwaner words of likely Austroasiatic origin: *ənap ‘fish scale’
References
Further reading Rensch, Calvin R. 2012. Melanau and the Languages of Central Sarawak. SIL Electronic Survey Report. SIL International.