Sama, Southern

A language of Philippines

Sama, Sama Tawi-Tawi, Southern Sinama, Tawi-Tawi Sinama

Sinama, Sinama Tawi-Tawi

200,000 in Philippines (2007 SIL), increasing. 20,000 monolinguals. Total users in all countries: 260,000.

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao: Tawi-Tawi province, Tawi-Tawi, Simunul, and Sibutu municipalities; other major islands.

Language Maps

4 (Educational).

Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Greater Barito, Sama-Bajaw, Sulu-Borneo, Inner Sulu Sama

Dialects

Sibutu’ (Sibutu), Simunul, Tandubas, Obian, Balimbing, Bongao, Sitangkai, Languyan, Sapa-Sapa, Sama Sibutu. Sibutu intelligibility of Sama Central [sml] 77%, of the Simunul dialect 89%. Simunul intelligibility of Sama Central [sml] 77%, of the Sibutu dialect 80%.

Language Use

Vigorous. Home, neighborhood, local level official functions, religious services, commerce, and labor relations. Positive attitudes. Also use Central Sama [sml]. Also use English [eng]. Also use Filipino [fil]. Also use Malay [zlm]. Also use Mapun [sjm]. Also use Molbog [pwm]. Also use Pangutaran Sama [slm]. Also use Tausug [tsg].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 65%–70%. Literacy rate in L2: 40% in Tausug [tsg], 40% in Filipino [fil], 30% in Malay [zlm], 10% in English [eng]. 130,000 can read, 100,000 can write. Literature may not be acceptable to other dialect speakers due to marginal intelligibility and strong regional loyalties. Taught in primary schools in grades 1–3. Literature. Radio. Videos. Dictionary. Bible portions: 1979–2009.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Sama, Southern

Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Simunul is central, prestige dialect. Bongao dialect from political, economic center of Southern Sama. Muslim.

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Malaysia

Language NameSama, Southern

User Population

60,000 in Malaysia (2015 S. Hinayat, M. Miller), decreasing. No monolinguals. Ethnic population: 119,000 (2000 SIL). 61,000 Bajau Kubang (or Bajau Semporna), 15,000 Bajau Laut, 14,500 Bajau Simunul, 13,000 Bajau Ubian, 9,000 Sibutu, 6,000 Sikubung, 700 Bajau Banaran.

Location

Sabah: some coastal regions of Kota Belud district; Kota Kinabalu district, including Gaya island; Kuala Penyu district; Kudat district, Banggi and Mantanani islands; Sandakan and Semporna districts.

Alternate Names

Sinama, Southern Bajau, Tawi-Tawi Sinama

Dialects

Bajau Banaran (Benadan, Binadan), Bajau Darat, Bajau Laut (Mandelaut, Pala’au, “Pala’u” (pej.), Sama Dilaut, Sama Laut, Sama Mandelaut, Sama Pala’au, Sea Bajau, Sea Gypsies), Bajau Semporna (Bajau Asli, Bajau Kubang, Kubang, Sama Kubang), Laminusa (Laminusa Sinama), Sibutu (Sama Sibutu, Samah Lumbuh, Samah-Samah, Sibutuq), Simunul (Bajau Simunul, Sama Simunul), Sikubung (Kubung, Sama Kubung), Sama (A’a Sama, Sama’, Samah, Samal, Samar), Ubian (Bajau Ubian, Obian, Sama Ubian, Tau Ubian), Denawan. Lexical similarity: Binadan and Denawan dialects are 89% lexically similar; 80%–82% with Balangingih Sama [sse] (1999 SIL).

Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Language Use

Some young people, all adults. Some children and adults; all elderly. Neutral attitudes. Also use Malay [zlm]. Also use Mapun [sjm]. Also use Sabah Malay [msi]. Also use Tausug [tsg]. Also use West Coast Bajau [bdr]. Used as L2 by Bonggi [bdg], Mapun [sjm], Molbog [pwm], Suluk [tsg].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 80% Standard Malay [zsm].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Muslim.

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Sama, Southern

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