Saʼban language
Saʼban is one of the remoter languages of Borneo, on the Sarawak–Kalimantan border. The language is known as hmeu Saʼban in the Saʼban language.
Classification
Saʼban is a member of the Apo Duat subgroup of languages, which also includes Kelabit, Lun Bawang/Lundayeh and Tring. Collectively, they belong to the North Sarawak subgroup of the Austronesian family. Today, the Saʼban people live in Long Peluan, Long Banga' and Long Balong in Sarawak, Malaysia. There are also Saʼban groups in Kalimantan, Indonesia.Phonology
The Saʼban language has several sounds that are rare among the world's languages. These include voiceless nasal and liquid consonants and a distinction between long and short vowels as well as long and short consonants. Some examples of words with voiceless nasals and liquids are given in the table below. They have a stative reading in contrast to long consonants:| Voiceless Continuant | Long Consonant | |
| 'torn' | 'to tear' | |
| 'correct' | 'to steer' | |
| 'opinion' | 'to think' |