A Bawean historian, M Natsir Abrari said that at a glance, Bawean language similar to Madurese, but actually Bawean language is very different. In his opinion the difference between Madurese and Baweanese are the pronunciation, and in intonation. Learnign Baweanese will take sensitivity in listening and pronunciation, he gave example from the word deun means leaf, or Dheun means Daun Village. Beje means time, bheje means croc and bejhe means steel.
Bawean language has been one of subject in schools in Bawean. Here are examples of bawean vocabulary:
Bawean language Vs Bahasa Indonesia
• Pandir = utterance (Bahasa Indonesia = stupid)
• Pekak = thirsty (Bahasa Indonesia =deaf)
• Lantai = bamboo mattras (Bahasa Indonesia = floor)
• Basi = rice basket (Bahasa Indonesia = stale)
• Bangkai = eat (non refine word) (Bahasa Indonesia = dead body)
• Buruk = coconut inside when it grows (Bahasa Indonesia = bad)
• Tampar = rope (Bahasa Indonesia = slap)
• Liburan = friendly (Bahasa Indonesia = vacation)
• Cerek = faeces (Bahasa Indonesia = water jug)
• Garuk = comb (Bahasa Indonesia = scratch)
• Celup = to color (Bahasa Indonesia = put in a water, to dip)
• Gadis = color material (Bahasa Indonesia = virgin)
• Apa = betel fruit (Bahasa Indonesia = what)
• Amper = similar (Bahasa Indonesia = power)
• Dampar = bench (Bahasa Indonesia = throw)
• Gampar = sandal (Bahasa Indonesia = hit)
• Becek = good (Bahasa Indonesia = watery)
• Bajik = hate (Bahasa Indonesia = wise)
• Telak = divorce (Bahasa Indonesia = exact)
• Semak = close, near (Bahasa Indonesia = bush)
• Reba = grass (Bahasa Indonesia = lay)
• Korak = surgical operation(Bahasa Indonesia = criminal)
• Komat = come (Bahasa Indonesia = saying a spell)
• Labu = fall (Bahasa Indonesia = pumpkins)
• Kocak = was suspected (Bahasa Indonesia = funny)
• Bara = swollen (Bahasa Indonesia = flame, live coals)
• Kabin = marry (Bahasa Indonesia = boat deck)
• Raja = big (Bahasa Indonesia = king)
• Perak = happy (Bahasa Indonesia = silver)
• Manja = like that (Bahasa Indonesia = spoiled)
• Kol = car (Bahasa Indonesia = cabbage)
• Mulia = want to to home (Bahasa Indonesia = great)
Dapur(baca : Depor) = Dapur
Kanan = Kanan
Banyak(baca : benyyak) = Banyak
Masuk = Masuk
Suruh = Suruh
Ngakan = Makan
Nginum = Minum
Ngarangkak = Merangkak
Bajar(baca : Bejer) = Bayar
Lajan(baca : Lajen) = Layan
Sembajang(baca : Sembejeng) = Sembahyang
Babang(baca : Bebeng)= Bawang
Jaba(baca : Jebe) = Jawa
Bawean Language vs Javanese language
• Anyep = tasteless (Bahasa Jawa = cold)
• Cekel = strangle (Bahasa Jawa = hold)
• Beling = naughty (Bahasa Jawa = china wares)
• Atos = hard, solid (Bahasa Jawa Tengah = finish)
• Kene = now (Bahasa Jawa = kere)
• Arek = crescent (Bahasa Jawa = child)
• Soko = foot (Bahasa Jawa = from)
• Takok = afraid(Bahasa Jawa = ask)
• Dhurung = barn (Bahasa Jawa = not yet)
• Embuh = adding (Bahasa Jawa = dont know)
• Burik = bottom, butt (Bahasa Jawa = dry wounds)
• Ambung = food with fungus (Bahasa Jawa = kiss)
• Nyapo = sweep floor (Bahasa Jawa (East Java)= What are you doing)
Baweanede vs other language
• Rancak = branch (Bahasa Padang = crowded, noisy)
• Palak = men,s genital (Bahasa Jakarta = asking things with force)
• Adek = Front (Bahasa Madura = Nothing)
• Bebelluk = stomach ache (Bahasa Lombok = tomorrow)
From various source