Malay, Ambonese

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A language of Indonesia

ISO 639-3
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Alternate Names
Ambon Malay, Ambonese, Ambong, Bahasa Ambon, Bahasa Melaju Ambon, Bahasa Melayu Ambon, Malayu Ambon, Moluccan (Maluku) Malay
Autonym
Malayu Ambong
User Population

1,600,000 in Indonesia, all users. L1 users: 200,000 in Indonesia (1987 J. Collins). L2 users: 1,400,000 (2013 M. Connor). Total users in all countries: 1,650,900 (as L1: 250,900; as L2: 1,400,000).

Location

Maluku province: Kepulauan Aru regency, Aru island group, Wamar island; Seram Bagian Barat regency, Ambon city, Kamarian to Seriholu on Hoamoa peninsula; Maluku Tengah regency, Nusa Laut island, upper Elpaputih bay east to Sepa; Ceram sea coast from Karlutu east to Sawai.

Language Maps
Language Status

3 (Wider communication). Developed on the island of Ambon in 16th century. First used as trade language (spice trade). Now lingua franca for interethnic communication in market domain, some media.

Classification
Creole, Malay based
Dialects

Dobo Malay. Marginal intelligibility with Indonesian [ind]. Difficult intelligibility with North Moluccan Malay [max]; speakers switch to Indonesian. Lexical similarity: 81% with Indonesian [ind]. Banda Malay [bpq] may best be considered a dialect of Moluccan Malay [max].

Language Use

Also use Indonesian [ind]. Used as L2 by Alune [alp], Amahai [amq], Aputai [apx], Benggoi [bgy], Buru [mhs], Central Masela [mxz], Dai [dij], Dawera-Daweloor [ddw], Dobel [kvo], East Masela [vme], Emplawas [emw], Fordata [frd], Galolen [gal], Haruku [hrk], Ili’uun [ilu], Imroing [imr], Kaibobo [kzb], Kamarian [kzx], Kayeli [kzl], Laha [lhh], Lisabata-Nuniali [lcs], Lisela [lcl], Lola [lcd], Loun [lox], Luang [lex], Luhu [lcq], Nila [nil], North Babar [bcd], Nusa Laut [nul], Paulohi [plh], Perai [wet], Saparua [spr], Seit-Kaitetu [hik], Serili [sve], Serua [srw], Southeast Babar [vbb], Tela-Masbuar [tvm], Te’un [tve], Tugun [tzn], Tulehu [tlu], Ujir [udj], Wemale [weo], West Masela [mss], West Tarangan [txn], Yalahatan [jal], Yamdena [jmd].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 1%–5%. Literacy rate in L2: 50%–75%. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1877.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Malay, Ambonese
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Developed from Sabah Malay [msi] and still reflects some archaic forms. Further diverged by adapting to the vernaculars of central Maluku. Many varieties of trade Malay are considered Malay-based creoles (Grimes 1991a, Grimes 1991b, Holm 1989) and as Austronesian with contact features (Collins 1980, Gil 2001, Wolff 1988). Christian, Muslim.

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