README.md

---
language:
- dtp
- en
- ms
license: mit
pretty_name: Dusun-English-Malay Dictionary and Corpus
task_categories:
- translation
tags:
- conditional-text-generation
- nmt
- low-resource
- endangered-language
- dusun
size_categories:
- 10K<n<100K
---

# Dusun-English-Malay Dictionary and Corpus

A trilingual dataset containing Dusun, English, and Malay words, phrases, and sentences compiled for linguistic research, dictionary development, and machine translation.
This dataset is based on the Dusun language as spoken by the Dusun ethnic group of Sabah, Malaysia. While the Dusun dialect in the dataset shares approximately 99% similarity with standardized Kadazandusun, there may be minor differences in vocabulary, spelling, and standardisation. Researchers working on Kadazandusun NLP may find this dataset largely applicable.

## Dataset Overview

This dataset contains approximately **16,000 entries** including:
- ~7k+ dictionary words with translations
- ~7K+ phrases and sentences with translations

**Languages:** Dusun (dtp), English (en), Malay (ms)

Curated from [DusunDictionary.com](https://www.dusundictionary.com) for Neural Machine Translation (NMT) model training and language preservation.

## Dataset Structure

### Columns

| Column | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| **Dusun** | Word or phrase in Dusun language |
| **English** | English translation |
| **Type** | Part-of-speech or entry type (noun, verb, adj, phrase, etc.) |
| **Malay** | Malay translation |
| **Category** | Semantic/thematic category |
| **Variant** | Dialectal variations and synonyms |

### Example Entry
```csv
Dusun,English,Type,Malay,Category,Variant
osonong,good,adj,bagus,quality,
doho,mine,pronoun,saya punya,,dogo
louson oku, I'm hungry,phrase,saya lapar,,
```

## Usage

### Loading the Dataset
```python
from datasets import load_dataset

# Load full dataset
dataset = load_dataset("DusunDictionary/dusun-dictionary-corpus")

# Access data
print(dataset['train'][0])
```

### Filtering for NMT Training

Extract sentence-level data for machine translation:
```python
# Filter phrases only (adjust based on your Type values)
phrases = dataset['train'].filter(lambda x: x['Type'] == 'phrase')

# Create Dusun-English pairs
dusun_english = phrases.map(lambda x: {
    'source': x['Dusun'],
    'target': x['English']
})
```

### Example Use Cases

- **Machine Translation:** Training Dusun↔English and Dusun↔Malay models
- **Language Preservation:** Documenting endangered language vocabulary
- **Linguistic Research:** Studying Austronesian language structures
- **Educational Tools:** Building language learning applications

## Language Information

**Dusun** (ISO 639-3: dtp) is an indigenous language spoken in Sabah, Malaysia. It is considered endangered, with fewer younger generation speakers. This dataset is part of ongoing efforts to preserve and revitalize the language through technology.

## Data Collection

Data is continuously curated and verified by native speakers through DusunDictionary.com, combining traditional lexicography with community contributions.

## License

MIT License - Free to use with attribution.

## Citation

If you use this dataset in your research, please cite:
```bibtex
@misc{dusun-corpus-2026,
  title={Dusun-English-Malay Dictionary and Corpus},
  author={DusunDictionary.com},
  year={2026},
  url={https://huggingface.co/datasets/DusunDictionary/dusun-dictionary-corpus}
}
```

## Contact & Contributing

- **Website:** [DusunDictionary.com](https://www.dusundictionary.com)
- **Issues:** Report errors or suggest improvements via Hugging Face discussions
- **Contributing:** Native speakers and linguists welcome to contribute

## Acknowledgments

This project is dedicated to preserving the Dusun language for future generations.