Tukang Besi South

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A language of Indonesia

ISO 639-3
bhq
Alternate Names
Buton, Tukang-Besi, Wakatobi
User Population

130,000 (1995 SIL), increasing. 100,000 in Maluku.

Location

South Sulawesi province: Selayar regency, Bonerate, Kalaotoa, Karompa, and Madu islands; Alor, Ambon, Buru, Maluku, Mongole, Seram, Sulawesi, and Taliabu islands; Southeast Sulawesi province: Tukang Besi archipelago, south islands, and northern Binongko and Tomea islands; Papua province: western areas.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Celebic, Eastern, Southeastern, Muna-Buton, Tukangbesi-Bonerate
Dialects

Binongko, Bonerate, Tomea (Tomia). Lexical similarity: 70%–75% with Tukang Besi North [khc], 48% with Cia-Cia [cia], 49% with Lasalimu [llm], average of 35% with other nearby languages. Lexical similarity 85% with Binongko and Tomea, 81% with Bonerate, 79% with Tomea and Bonerate.

Typology

Pronominal indexing; grammatical status of subject; morphological case; causative; Philippine and Oceanic type language features.

Language Use

Vigorous. Used by all, even in communities away from the main islands. Also use Cia-Cia [cia]. Also use Indonesian [ind]. Also use Indonesian Bajau [bdl]. Also use Kamaru [kgx]. Also use Lasalimu [llm]. Used as L2 by Indonesian Bajau [bdl], Kumbewaha [xks].

Language Development

Grammar.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Tukang Besi South
Writing

Unwritten [Qaax].

Other Comments

Muslim.