Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalofstra23241891roya).pdf/231

 but not explained, any more than it can be told why in Malay words with an initial s form the verb by dropping that letter and substituting meny مڽا. In both Sakai and Malay it is pro- bable that euphony to the native ear is alone responsible for such rules. In Sakai the following are the phonetic changes which words adopted by the aborigines from Malay undergo, accord- ing to the original termination of the Malay word:—

(I) All Malay words split up into component syllables.

(II) A final vowel becomes that vowel in its abrupt (') form. Thus, luka, a wound, becomes in Sěn-oi lu-ka ' .

(III) Final m becomes final nasal pⁿ. The vowel in the last syllable sometimes changing from a to u. Thus, jeram, a rapid, becomes je rupⁿ.

(IV) Final ng becomes final nasal kⁿ. Thus, kuching, a cat, becomes ku-chikⁿ; cherang, a clearing, becomes cherakⁿ.

(V) Final ak, ek, ik, ok and uk in Malay, though silent in that language, are pronounced as they are written and not as they are pronounced by the Malays of the Peninsula.

The reason for rule (V) is apparent. The Malay sound of the finals written ak, ek, ik, ok and uk are already in use by the Sakai for another class of words adopted from the Malay, as will be seen by rule (II) above. As stated in rule (IV), kⁿ, the only other appropriate sound, is employed for words adopted from the Malay ending in ng. The only resource left to the Sakai is, therefore, to pronounce the k in order to distinguish between the final a, e, i, o or z, and the final ak, ek, ik, ok and uk, and this is accordingly done.

I have now written all that I think it advisable to publish at the present time, and finally I will briefly recapitulate the conclusions which, I think, are shewn to be probable, if not certain, from the evidence which I have submitted. Firstly, then, I hold that the Sakai all speak various dialects of a common tongue; secondly, that they are more ancient inhabitants of the Peninsula than are the Malays; and lastly, that the former have not derived any elementary roots from the Sakai.

15th September, 1891.