Language NameSama, Southern
User Population60,000 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.
LocationSabah: 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 NamesSinama, Southern Bajau, Tawi-Tawi Sinama
DialectsBajau 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 UseSome 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].
