III.

Characteristics

In general, the Austronesian languages use affixes (suffixes, infixes, prefixes) attached to base words to modify the meaning or to indicate the function of the word in the sentence. Base words often have two syllables. Reduplication is used to indicate plural number and other changes of meaning. Thus, in Malay, rumah means house, and rumah-rumah means houses. Verbal and nominal systems are often complex. Javanese and some other languages have forms of speech for specific social situations (such as informal or deferential). Austronesian languages are written either in the Roman alphabet or in alphabets based on Indian and Arabic scripts.

English words of Austronesian origin include taboo, tattoo, and ukelele (from Polynesian); amok, gingham, and kapok (from Malay); batik and junk (from Javanese); and boondocks (from Tagalog, or Filipino, bundok,”mountain”).