It is a local language of the Minahasa people spoken in the city of Tomohon and in the villages under the Kota Tomohon administration such as Rurukan, Pinaras, Kumelembuai, Woloan, and Tara-Tara. It is also spoken in the villages under the administration of the Minahasa Regency in the Tombulu district, Tombariri district, Mandolang district, Pineleng district, and two villages in the Sonder district, namely Rambunan and Sawangan.
Distribution
Below are the list of villages that historically speaks bahasa Tombulu:
The Tombulu language is unique among the Minahasan languages in its pronunciation of the letter ⟨l⟩. In the other four Minahasan languages the letter ⟨l⟩ is pronounced as is, but in Tombulu it is pronounced like the ⟨th⟩ of the English language.[clarification needed]
For example: kulo, meaning 'white', would be pronounced as kutho.
English
Tombulu
Yes
Ene
No
Zei'kan
North
Amian
South
Timu
West
Talikuran
East
Sendangan
Hand
Lengan
Head
Ulu
Ear
Lunteng
Eye
Weweren
Stomach
Po'ot
Feet
A'e
Grandma
Nene
Grandfather
Tete
Mom
Ina
Dad
Ama
Me
Niaku
You
Niko
We
Kai
They
Sera
Him, her
Sia
Friend
Karia
Beautiful
Fasung
Female
Wewene
Male
Tuama
Kids
K'oki
Female teacher
Enci
Male teacher
Engku
Bad
Lewo
Good
Le'os
Water
Zano
Shower
Lemele
Drink
Melep
School
Sekolah
Going to school
Sumikolah
Give
Wehape
Hungry
Maharem
Full (Stomach Full)
Wesu
Eat
Kuman
Breakfast
Sumokol
Fish
Seza
Good morning
Syambae
Good day
Tabea
When
Sawisa
Where
Wisa
Who
Sei
Go
Mange
Stop
Mento
Sit down
Rumemez
Stand
Rumendai
Walk
Lampang
Walking
Lumampang
Let's go
Meimo
Until then
Teintu mo
Because
Pah'paan
But
Ta'an
Or
Ka'pa
Although
Ma'an
Very
totoz
Yesterday
Kawi'i
Today
N'endo
Tonight
Wengindo mokan
Tomorrow
Sando
Face (Menghadap)
Sumaru
Sleep
Tekel
Sleeping
Tumekel
Falling Asleep
Matatandu
Have slept
Matetekelo
Rise
Sumaup
Ascend
Sumosor
Descend
Meros
Left
Kawi-i
Right
Kakan
God
Opo
Holy Spirit
Aseng Lengas
Numerals
1
Esa
11
Mapulu wo Esa
20
Zua nga pulu
100
Maatus
1000
Mariwu
2
Zua
12
Mapulu wo Zua
21
Zua nga pulu wo Esa
200
Zua nga'atus
2000
Zua nga'riwu
3
Tellu
4
Epat
5
Lima
6
Enem
7
Pitu
8
Wallu
9
Siou
10
Mapulu
Phrases & examples
English
Tombulu
3479
Telu nga'riwu wo epat nga'atus wo pitu ngapulu wo siou
How are you?
Kura-mo?
What's your name?
Sei sia ngaranu?
Where are you going?
Mange wisako?
What are you doing?
Ma'kura'ko?
Where are you from?
Wisako ameye?
Who is he/she?
Sei sia?
See you tomorrow
Sando mokan
How much?
Pira?
Can I have some?
Wehane toyo?
The drinks are not here
Se elepan kampe wia
Thank you
Makase mo
I love you
Ko'rara ateku
God of The Highest
Opo Wananatas
God Almighty
Opo Wailan Wangko
Penginaléi Ama’ nai
Ama nai im wana sorga,
Loozen nai un ngaranNu
Maye mo ung kakolanoanmu
Mamualimoma un paazmu ti kaayahaan mo ti sorga
Wehape nikai inendo kenu kanen nai takaz maawez
Wo ampunganne un sumala nai
Tanu nikai mahampung wia setou simala wia nikai
Wo tiakkan ipah wali nikai wana an pema'waa
Ta'an izoula wia nikai witu kalewo'a
Pahpaan niko uman simaka kakolanoan,
Wo ung kawasa,
wo ung kawangunan takaz kauze-uze na,
Ulit.
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power,
the glory forever,
Amen.
Status
The Tombulu language is in critical need of revitalization. It is not being spoken as a first language in highly populated areas such as Tomohon, Pineleng, and Tanawangko. Traditionally Tombulu-speaking villages such as Woloan, Tara-Tara, Lolah, and Lemoh are not so today. The Board of Education of the Indonesian government has not offered any help either to the Tombulu language or any other local languages that are in decline. It is responsible for the removal of the Muatan Lokal from the daily curriculum of all grade schools across the nation in the past few years. Muatan Lokal, if available, is a daily class which most provinces in Indonesia use to teach the new generations the local languages.
Tombulu is still spoken in villages such as Kayawu, Rurukan, Kumelembuai, Pinaras, Suluan, Kembes, Tombuluan, Rumengkor, Kali, Tondangow, Sawangan, and Rambunan all the way to the children. One Sunday on every month, Tombulu language is used in sermon in its local churches.
At the beginning of 2013, an Indonesian-Tombulu dictionary was first released. A New Testament version of the Bible in Tombulu language was released in November 2018.[4]
^Sahulata, D. (1993). Struktur bahasa Tombulu. Jakarta: Pusat Pembinaan dan Pengembangan Bahasa, Departemen Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan.
^Makalew-Palar, J.A.; Kembuan, L.D.; Terak, R. (1994). Fonologi Bahasa Tombulu. Jakarta: Pusat Pembinaan dan Pengembangan Bahasa, Departemen Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan.
