The Alphabet from 1947-1962 (77 characters)

International Conferences for Dunging's Alphabet

I will be presenting a paper entitled, 'Iban Alphabet: A Revival' at the 7th International Conference of the Malaysian Social Science Association, in USM, Penang from 16-18 March 2010.

I will be presenting a paper entitled, 'Iban Alphabet: Training and Documentation' at the 1st Borneo International Conference of Languages and Literatures (BICOLL), in Riverside Majestic Crowne Plaza, Kuching from 8-9 June 2010.

I will be presenting another paper entitled, 'Iban Alphabet: From mythical origin to intellectual invention' at the 10th Biennial Borneo Research Council Conference, Curtin University of Technology Sarawak, Miri from 5-7 July 2010.

Tu meh ripih atur pejurai 2010, aku deka bejurai ka pasal tulis Dunging tu awakka ditemu bala mayuh ukai semina ari raban kitai Iban tang mega ari bala raban bansa bukai.

Tabi bala pemacha weblog...

Keterubah aku meri besai terima kasih ngagai bala kita ti sanggup ngetu nyengok webblog Tulis Iban Dunging tu. Aku enggau ati ti gaga deka ngemajuka Tulis Aki Dunging kitai tu ti ditengkebangka iya kelia jeman tang tau dikena kitai nulis jaku Iban. ba dunya moden tu .Aku ngelaluka sebarang komen tauka cadangan ari bala kita mayuh kena kitai sama bela ngemajuka tulis kitai Iban. Arapka aku ulih meri balas enggau jampat ngagai bala komen tauka cadangan kita mayuh.

aCvâL cLâr

Words of Gratitude

I MUST THANK THOSE WHO HAVE HELPED IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER ALONG THE LINE: 

MR. BAGAT ANAK NUNUI

MR. SIMON INGKA CROWN

MR. SAMUEL AUBREY

SARAWAK GAZETTE

MISS JACQUALINE ANOM

MR. KELVIN ANOM

MR. NGABONG KATOI

THE JOURNEY HAS JUST BEGUN!

Iban Language Software for 

Microsoft Windows Applications: 

Up for Sale soon! 

The price details will be ready soon

 

Here's a sample of computer wordprocessed Iban writing

I tried to use the Iban font on mozilla but somehow there isn't any transliteration for the Iban font as yet. Anyway, hopefully, it is possible to use the font later in the future.

SARAWAK GAZETTE - IBAN ALPHABET

Transferred from Dunging's Chart (revised by Bagat)

The picture shows how the characters were arranged by Dunging after a final revision. The characters were rather disorganised by virtue of the Latin alphabetical system, making it (59 caharacters) rather difficult to learn and memorize. When I first analysed it, I thought it required a bit of changes particularly in terms of the sequence of the characters. I thought that it should be arranged according to a certain system that is both familiar and easy for prospective users. After some discussion with the Linguist Software, US, I agreed that the sequence be arranged in an alphabetical order for ease of use. When the characters were finally 'inputted' into the computer, the characters were sequenced according to the Latin alphabetical system in a software known as the LaserIban.

Iban Characters in Wooden Tablet

Some background info on the alphabet

In 1947 Dunging invented 77 characters/symbols representing phonological sounds in the Iban language. His alphabet was taught to a few of his nephews while the rest of the people in his community were too illiterate to appreciate the significance of his alphabet then. Undaunted by the poor response from the surrounding community, Dunging kept at revising and refining his alphabet until after almost 15 years he managed to discard some overlapping and redundant characters. He finally managed to revise the alphabet from 77 to 59 characters in 1962. Dunging was once invited by some colonial officers to teach his alphabet system to the Iban public in Betong. through formal education. His effort was unfortunately short-lived as he was not in agreement with some of the terms stipulated on his alphabet teaching. He left and the whole school for the alphabet was scrapped. Ever since then, the alphabet eventually disappeared into oblivion even though there had been some effort to revive it, nonetheless, all efforts seemed to fizzle away. Dunging's adopted son, Mr. Bagat Nunui however managed to put whatever was left together into an unpublished manuscript in 1990. It was only later that the alphabet was revived and revitalised by Dr. Bromeley Philip to salvage it from disappearing with times.

Inventor of Iban Alphabet

Dunging Anak Gunggu (1904-1985)

Born and Died at:

Nanga Ulai LongHouse, Debak Sub-District,
Betong Division, Sarawak
East Malaysia.

Married to:

Ini' Danggai.

Adopted Son (His wife's nephew):

Mr. Bagat anak Nunui (Nanga Ulai LongHouse's Headman)