Antambahoaka (pronunciation: ) is a dialect of Malagasy spoken by the Antambahoaka people in the region of Vatovavy.
Classification The Antambahoaka dialect is a member of the Austronesian languages family, within the Malayo-Polynesian languages branch. It is part of the Barito languages group, specifically the Eastern Barito subgroup.
Antambahoaka belongs to the Central-Eastern Malagasy dialect cluster and is associated with the Plateau Malagasy division.
Location Its geographical range corresponds mainly to the administrative districts of Mananjary and Nosy Varika in the Vatovavy Region in Southeastern Madagascar. The map is placed before the numbered pages.
Characteristics The Antambahoaka dialect shares notable linguistic features with the Northern Tanala and Southern Betsimisaraka.
+ Lexical Comparison between Antambahoaka, Northern Tanala, and Southern Betsimisaraka Gloss Antambahoaka Northern Tanala Southern Betsimisaraka one raika raika Iraika I iaho iaho izaho we (inclusive) antsena antsena antsena We (exclusive) Ahay Ahay Zahay only mi avao mi all maro be / aby maro be / aby jiaby to tell mizaka mizaka mizaka above agnambo ambony agnambo now niane niany niane
Vocabulary English Malagasy standard Antambahoaka We/Us Isika Antsena Who Iza Zovy All Rehetra Maro be Also/Only Ihany koa/Ihany Mi That Izay Zegny Like Ohatrany Kara Even Na Ndre If Raha Raha/Laha After Aoriana Afara One Isa/Iray Isa/Raika Fruit Voa Isiny Jackfruit Ampalibe Ampalibe To hide Afenina Avony I love/like Tiako Teako I don't like/love Tsy tiako Tsy teako Writing System Antambahoaka dialect is one of the Malagasy varieties that were historically written using the Arabic-derived Arabico-Malagasy script, alongside that of the Antemoro and Tanosy. This script was primarily used for magical and divinatory purposes.
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