Bajau, Indonesian

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A language of Indonesia

ISO 639-3
bdl
Alternate Names
Badjaw, Badjo, Bajao, Bajau, Bajo, Bayo, Baʔong Sama, Gaj, Indonesian Bajaw, Orang Laut, Sama, Taurije’ne’
User Population

226,000 (2010 census). 5,000 or more in North Maluku (Grimes 1982), 8,000 to 10,000 in South Sulawesi (Grimes and Grimes 1987), 7,000 in North Sulawesi and Gorontalo, 36,000 in Central Sulawesi, 40,000 in Southeast Sulawesi (Mead et al 2007), and several thousand in Nusa Tenggara (Wurm and Hattori 1981, Verheijen 1986).

Location

Sulawesi island: widespread throughout north central area; North Maluku province: on Bacan, Kayoa, Obi, and Sula islands.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Greater Barito, Sama-Bajaw, Sulu-Borneo, Borneo Coast Bajaw
Dialects

Jampea, Same’, Matalaang, Sulamu, Kajoa, Roti, Jaya Bakti, Poso, Togian 1, Togian 2, Wallace.

Language Use

Vigorous in north Maluku and Southeast Sulawesi. Some of all ages. Also use Balantak [blz]. Also use Bugis [bug]. Also use Indonesian [ind]. Also use Tukang Besi North [khc]. Also use Tukang Besi South [bhq]. Also use Wawonii [wow]. Used as L2 by Tukang Besi North [khc], Tukang Besi South [bhq].

Language Development

Radio. Texts.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Bajau, Indonesian
Writing

Unwritten [Qaax].

Other Comments

Known as Bayo and Taurije’ne’ in the Makasar [mak] language. Known as Bajo in Buginese [bug]. Schools in some villages. They live in houses on stilts over water. Other Bajau languages are in Sabah, Malaysia, and the southern Philippines. Muslim, traditional religion.