Introduction

With a population of approximately 20,000, the Lotud ethnic group inhabits the Tuaran district, Kiulu, Telipok, and Tuaran of Sabah, Malaysia. Other terms used to refer to this language is Dusun Lotud or Suang Lotud. It is classified under Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, North Borneo, Sabahan, Dusunic, Bisaya-Lotud. There are four dialects of Lotud: Suang Lotud, Suang Olung, Suang Sarayoh, and Dusun Kadayan.
 
The Lotud highly value their language. Both young and old use it in the home, in converstations with friends, in religious settings, and at work. Bible portions were completed in 1992.
 
The Pertubuhan Pelestarian Bahasa Suang Lotud Sabah (PELESTARIAN) association, the Persatuan Suang Lotud Sabah (PERADATAN) association, the Kadazandusun Language Foundation (KLF), and the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Cawangan Sabah (DBP, Sabah) all promote the use and development of the Lotud language. Please contact them for more information.