Absence of /r/
As discussed above, a defining characteristic of Kedayan is the absence of /r/, in contrast with the Standard Malay spoken in Brunei which has a clear /r/ in initial, medial and final positions (Clynes & Deterding, 2011) and Brunei Malay in which /r/ is usually either tapped [ɾ] or trilled [r] (Deterding & Ishamina, 2017).
Indeed, the other indigenous languages of Brunei also all have some kind of /r/, including Dusun in which it is pronounced as a voiced velar fricative [ɣ] (Gardiner et al, 2019). Table 3 shows how DBPB (2011) lists roti (‘bread’), baris (‘line’) and acar (‘pckles’) in the seven indigenous languages of Brunei. Note that only Kedayan has no consonant at the start of uti, in the middle of bais, and in final position in aca.
Table 3. The pronunciation of roti (‘bread’), baris (‘line’), and acar (‘pickles’) in the seven indigenous languages of Brunei (DBPB, 2011, pp. 243, 22 & 1).