1 On derivational processes in Fataluku 1 , a non-Austronesian language in East-Timor. Aone van Engelenhoven Leiden University Abstract This paper discusses two major morphological devices that have been described as nominalising processes in Fataluku, a near-isolating non-Austronesian language in East Timor. Section 1 discusses that, notwithstanding a few differences, all five dialects are mutually intelligible. Section 2 provides a short typological sketch of the language. In sections 3 and 4, the two morphological devices are described and it is concluded that /-(n)ana/ and /-(’)ina/ derive adjectives rather than nouns. In section 5, it is concluded that the adjective morphemes may be derived from verbs in a scenario where Fataluku becomes more and more isolating. 1. Introduction With its 30.000 speakers, Fataluku is the fourth language of the republic of East Timor. It genetically belongs to the non-Austronesian Timor-Alor-Pantar branch that is a member of the Trans-New-Guinea phylum (Engelenhoven 2006, Donohue and Schapper 2007). Whereas Hull still analyses Oirata as a ‘Fataluku dialect characterized by certain archaisms’ (Hull 2005:1), Naerssen (2007), in an unpublished paper, convincingly argues that two separate languages should be distinguished. One is Oirata, spoken on the island of Kisar in Southwest Maluku (Indonesia) characterized by its conservative morphology, the other Fataluku exclusively spoken in the nearby Lautem District, which is in the eastern tip of the republic of East Timor. Neighbouring languages of Fataluku are Makalero, which is confined to the Iliomar Subdistrict that borders on the Vikeke District (Huber 2008), and two severely endangered Makasai dialects – Sa’ani and Naini –, spoken in the Luro Subdistrict that borders on Baukau District. They belong to the same Timor-Alor-Pantar subgroup as well. At least two other languages used to be spoken in the region: Makuva and Rusenu, or Nisa. Makuva is an Austronesian language of the East Subgroup in Extra-Ramelaic,next to the offshore isolects of Luangic-Kisaric in Southwest Maluku and the Karui-Waimaha-Midiki- Naueti dialect chain in the Manatutu, Baukau and Vikeke Districts. It is confined to the Tutuala Subdistrict and was long considered to be nearly extinct. However, it turned out to be subjected to a process of ‘language concealment’ in order to prevent it from disappearing (Engelenhoven and Valentim 2006, Engelenhoven 2009). Ongoing research suggests that Rusenu or Nisa was formerly spoken in the Lautem Subdistrict where it became extinct in the first half of the twentieth century (Andrew McWilliam, pc). A final semispeaker of the language was found in January 2007. 2 The data thus far indicate that Rusenu/Nisa was closely related to Fataluku. Fataluku today has five mutually intelligible dialects. The North and Northwest dialects are spoken in and around Lautem village and in the region at the northcoast that borders on Baukau District. The Central and South dialects are spoken in the Lospalos Subdistrict, of 1 This paper was written within the framework of the Fataluku Language Project in the Endangered Languages Programme of NWO (project no. 256-70-560). We want to thank Juliette Huber, Paulino dos Santos, Hein Steinhauer, Ruben Stoel and Justino Valentim for their advice and support. 2 Since no linguistic analyses have been published on this language, I refer to the interviews in the Dutch media that can be retrieved through http://www.fataluku.com/staff/interviews/.