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Lesson 6: Negation in Dusun

In Dusun, expressing negation (saying "don't", “no,” “not,” or “none”) is simple once you know a few key words. There are only a handful of negation words, but each one behaves differently depending on context and sentence structure.

🚫 Main Negation Words

• amu → not / do not / no (tidak)
• okon → is not / are not (bukan) -used for identity or classification
• aiso → none / nothing / no one (tiada)
• kada → don’t (jangan) - used for commands
• mada → don’t want (tidak mau) - used for intention or refusal

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Rule 1: Use amu before a pronoun and a verb/adjective

The most common negation word is amu. It is always followed by a subject pronoun (e.g. oku, ko, yau) and then the verb or adjective.

Examples:

• Amu oku karati → I don't understand
• Amu ko mongoi → You are not going
• Amu yau nokorikot → He didn’t arrive

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Rule 2: Use okon for identity or classification

Use okon when you want to negate something’s identity or label — for example, “He is not a doctor” or “That’s not your house.”

Examples:

• Okon yoho → It wasn't me
• Okon ko dokutur yau dih? → Isn’t he a doctor?
• Okon ih diya doh walai → That is not your house

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Rule 3: Use aiso to express “none” or “no one”

Use aiso when there is a complete absence of something — whether it’s people, objects, or ideas.

Examples:

• Aiso tangaanak hilo → There are no children there
• Aiso tulun mangakan takano → No one is eating rice
• Aiso nunu doho ti → I have nothing (no possessions)

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Rule 4: Use kada for “don’t” in commands

Kada is used to tell someone not to do something — just like an imperative “don’t” in English. It works like a command and does not need a subject pronoun.

Examples:

• Kada ongoi → Don’t go
• Kada ihad → Don’t cry
• Kada minayo → Don’t play

You’ll often hear this used in everyday speech when giving instructions or warnings, especially to children.

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Rule 5: Use mada to express “don’t want”

Mada expresses a lack of desire or intention. It is usually followed by a subject and a verb.

Examples:

• Mada oku → I don’t want (to)
• Mada oku mangakan → I don’t want to eat
• Mada is John mongoi sikul → John doesn’t want to go to school

This form is different from amu, which simply says something is not happening. Mada implies a personal choice or will.

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🧭 Placement in Sentences

Negation words like amu, mada, aiso usually appear near the beginning of the clause, especially before the subject pronoun and verb. However, in longer or compound sentences, they can appear later — but never as the last word.

Examples:

• Ogumu tusin dau nga aiso walai → He is rich but has no house
• Hiti oku walai sabab amu oku nokoilo haro kalas → I’m at home because I didn’t know there was class

Just remember to keep negation close to the subject or verb it’s affecting, and avoid placing it at the very end of a sentence.