Key Features
In contrast with the six vowels of Standard Malay /i, e, a, o, u, ə/ (Clynes & Deterding, 2011), Kedayan has just three vowels, /i, a, u/, which makes it similar to Brunei Malay (Deterding & Ishamina, 2017) and also Kampong Ayer (Martin & Poedjosoedarmo, 1996, p. 8).
One distinct phonological feature of Kedayan Malay, in contrast with varieties such as Brunei Malay and Standard Malay, is the absence of /r/. Where /r/ occurs in initial position in Standard Malay, the equivalent word in Kedayan begins with a vowel, so rambut (‘hair’) in Standard Malay is ambut in Kedayan, and rumah (‘house’) is umah (DBPB, 2006, pp. 296 & 301). In medial position, /r/ is similarly omitted, so Standard Malay orang (‘person’) is uang [uʷaŋ] in Kedyan, and merah (‘red’) is miah [miʲah] (DBPB, 2006, pp. 278 & 270). For /r/ in final position, a long vowel occurs, so Standard Malay besar (‘large’) is basa which is pronounced as [basa:] with a lengthened final vowel (DBPB, 2006, p. 188).