Batta is a Raja Ampat-South Halmahera (Austronesian) language spoken by around 150 people in three villages on the south coast of Batanta island, Raja Ampat. According to local history, some of the speakers of Batta originate from the interior of the island, but were brought out to the coast by Manarmakeri, a local hero figure.
Batta is seriously endangered, in that only people aged about 40 plus use the language on a daily basis. Speakers of Batta are very keen to be involved in a documentation of their language and culture. Here are some recordings I made during the two weeks I spent in Bata-speaking villages. [Posted with permission.]
BAT001: A history of Batanta, told in Papuan Malay by Henop Dey, the bapak adat of Yenenas. Metadata is here, and a Malay transcription and (rough) English translation is here (.eaf) or here (.txt).
BAT007: Septinus Mde talks about a mermaid he used to see near Yenenas. Metadata is here, and a transcription and Malay translation is here (.eaf).
BAT018: A children's story about a mudskipper and a pufferfish, told by Hans Ferson Sawoy. Metadata is here – unfortunately we didn't have time to translate this story. (Audio editing by Rebecca Corbett)
BAT022: A song, composed and sung in Batta and Malay by bapak adat Henop Dey, about the importance of protecting Batanta island.
