In spoken Dusun, you’ll often hear small words like maa, ii, bah, boh, or yoh. These are called conversational particles. They do not change sentence grammar, but add tone, attitude, or subtle intent.
Most particles do not have direct translations. Removing them usually keeps the meaning, but the sentence may sound blunt, harsh, or less natural.
| Particle | Function / Feeling | Example Sentences (no translation) |
|---|---|---|
| bah / ba | A highly flexible response particle whose meaning depends on intonation, length, and context. Refer to the paragraph below for more. | |
| maa | Marks discovery, contrast, or a shift in understanding. Often used when something turns out differently than expected. |
Aiso maa dii tulun hiti Isai maa ii? Ih John ii maa sanganu di kurita |
| ii | Adds confirmation, emphasis, or a sense of completion in speech. |
Aiso ii Nokorikot oku ii |
| boh | A gentle softener that reduces bluntness and adds politeness or humility. I think it translates to 'bah' in Sabah local Malay. |
Aiso ii boh (Tiada bah) Nokorikot oku boh (saya sampai juga bah) |
| yoh | Softens statements and implies contrast between two situations (expected vs actual, others vs me, or alternative outcomes). Often used in warnings or “just in case” decisions. |
Lumombon ko makan kasari yoh Tamas iti yoh Louson oku yoho yoh Momoli oku yoh doh payung |
Bah is one of the most common particles in everyday Dusun conversation. You will hear it all the time, especially in casual speech. In Dusun, bah is most naturally placed at the beginning of a sentence as a response marker or conversation opener.
This is slightly different from local Sabah Malay, where bah is used even more freely and can appear almost anywhere in the sentence. Even so, many Dusun uses of bah feel similar to Sabah Malay usage because both rely heavily on tone.
Bah does not carry a fixed meaning. It acts as a tone carrier, shaped by intonation (rising or falling), length (short or stretched), and context. This is why it feels like it has many “meanings”.
| Form / Tone | Function | Example (no translation) |
|---|---|---|
| Bah (short) |
Acceptance or agreement |
Bah. (Ok) Bah, ngam noh ino (That is correct) |
| Baaah… (long, falling ↓↓↓) |
Reluctant acceptance or resignation | Baaah… terpaksa kowinon nuh ih sumandak nu (in that case, you have to marry your girlfriend) |
| Bah, (neutral–down–neutral →↓→) |
used to scare someone | Bah, haro moti kuburan hilo dapan. |
| Bah! (firm, strong falling ↓ with stress) |
Firm emphasis or insistence | Bah, mana ngam kalau bogini (this is not correct!) |
| Bah? (rising ↑) |
Surprise or questioning | Bah? Nunu poh andadon nu? Pokianu doh numbur tolipaun boh (what are you waiting for? Ask for her number) |
| Bah— (soft, level → or gentle fall ↘) |
Reassurance or calming tone | Bah, andad poh toruhai |
| Bah, (short falling ↓) |
Conversation starter or transition | Bah, kuro-kuro ko noh gaman? |
📝 Tip: Particles are best learned by listening. Focus on tone, rhythm, and context rather than literal meaning.