Mandar

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A language of Indonesia

ISO 639-3
mdr
Alternate Names
Andian, Mandharsche, Manjar
User Population

499,000 (2010 census).

Location

South Sulawesi province: Pangkajene Islands regency, Pabbring islands near Makassar city, other areas; West Sulawesi province: Majene, Mamuju, and Polewali Mandar regencies, Cape Mandar and Majene city, and 3 coastal enclaves north; coastal area between Parangkayu and Simajo towns.

Language Maps
Language Status

3 (Wider communication). Used for trading purposes and other inter-group communication by 5 other language groups in the area (2020 S. Anonby).

Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, South Sulawesi, Northern, Mandar
Dialects

Majene, Balanipa (Napo-Tinambung), Malunda, Pamboang, Sendana (Cenrana, Tjendana). A complex dialect grouping. May be more dialects than those listed. Balanipa and Sendana may each be more than 1 dialect. Balanipa is prestige dialect. Mandar, Mamuju [mqx], and Bambam [ptu] are separate languages in a language chain.

Language Use

Some young people, all adults. Among the Mandar ethnic group. Loss of Mandar is not occuring among other groups who use it for trade. Positive attitudes. Most also use Indonesian [ind]. Used as L2 by Budong-Budong [bdx], Dakka [dkk], Koneq-koneq [cml], Mamuju [mqx], Pannei [pnc], Ulumanda’ [ulm].

Language Development

Radio. Dictionary.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Mandar
Writing

Buginese script [Bugi], no longer in use. Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Muslim.