南岛语系的
nándǎoyǔxì de
The Chinese word for "austronesian" is 南岛语系的 (nándǎoyǔxì de).
This term is used as an adjective to describe things that are of or pertaining to the Austronesian language family.
Meaning: of or pertaining to Austronesia (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The noun component 南岛语系 breaks down into 南 (south), 岛 (island) and 语系 (language family).
Which one should you use?
While 南岛语系 is the standard term, the alternative form 南岛语族 is sometimes used interchangeably in specific linguistic contexts to refer to the Austronesian language family.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Both 南岛语系 and 南島語系 are used to refer to Austronesian languages, with the latter being common in Taiwanese Mandarin and the former being widely used in Mainland China.
How does it change in a sentence?
To use this as an adjective, the particle 的 is added to the noun phrase 南岛语系. This particle functions to turn the noun into an adjective meaning 'Austronesian' or 'of the Austronesian language family'.
How do you pronounce it?
nándǎoyǔxì de
Did you know?
- Chinese linguists use the term 南岛语系 to include not only the islands of Southeast Asia but also the remote languages of the Pacific and the Malagasy language of Africa.
- The word 南岛 literally translates to 'South Island', a descriptive term that groups diverse cultures from Madagascar to Easter Island under a single geographical label in Chinese.
- In Chinese, the term for 'language family' is 语系, where 系 (system) acts as a suffix to group the various island languages into one unit.
Examples in context
- 我对南岛语系的研究非常感兴趣。I am very interested in studying the Austronesian language family.
- 他研究南岛语系的语言学。Tā yánjiū Nándǎo yǔxì de yǔyán xué.He studies Austronesian linguistics.
- 南岛语系的分布非常广泛。Nándǎo yǔxì de fēnbù fēicháng guǎngfàn.The distribution of Austronesian languages is very wide.
- 这是一本关于南岛语系的著作。Zhè shì yī běn guānyú Nándǎo yǔxì de zhùzuò.This is a work regarding the Austronesian language family.
Example conversation
Two students are discussing a linguistics seminar in a library.
- 雨婷 Yuting俊杰，你听过南岛语系的讲座吗？Jùnjié, nǐ tīngguò Nándǎo yǔxì de jiǎngzuò ma?Junjie, have you heard the lecture on Austronesian languages?
- 俊杰 Junjie我还没听，那是关于什么的？Wǒ hái méi tīng, nà shì guānyú shénme de?I haven't heard it yet, what is it about?
- 雨婷 Yuting主要是关于南岛语系的演化过程。Zhǔyào shì guānyú Nándǎo yǔxì de yǎnhuà guòchéng.It is mainly about the evolution of Austronesian languages.
- 俊杰 Junjie听起来很有意思，我也想去。Tīng qǐlái hěn yǒu yìsi, wǒ yě xiǎng qù.It sounds very interesting, I want to go too.
