Definition of Punan in English:
Punan
nounPlural Punans puːˈnɑːn
1A member of any of various groups of Dayak peoples inhabiting parts of Borneo.
Example sentencesExamples
- In the city, the Punan benefit from all positive effects of development.
- Sago starch harvested from palm trees is still the main source of carbohydrate for the Punan living in the remote forest village of Rian Tibu.
- Originally, Orang Ulu was a name given to the Kayan and Kenyah tribes and smaller neighbouring tribes which include the Kajang, Kejaman, Punan, Ukit and Penan.
2mass noun Any of the related languages of the Punan, now with fewer than 4,000 speakers.
Example sentencesExamples
- While your average Southeast Asian expat would rarely speak more than 2 languages, Tivai is multilingual and speaks 8 (Punan, Kenyah, Kayan, Iban, Bazaar Malay, Bahasa Indonesia proper, a bit of Banjarese and Foochow Chinese).
adjective puːˈnɑːn
Relating to the Punan or their languages.
Example sentencesExamples
- A team of experts has spent months comparing the lives of the Punan people, who still live as hunter-gatherers in the forest of Indonesian Borneo, with those of tribe members who have been lured away by civilisation.
- Searcy is presenting a seminar on translation to Punan church leaders.