Tausug

A language of Philippines

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao: Sulu province, Jolo, in Sulu archipelago; Basilan province, Basilan island; MIMAROPA region: Palawan province on Palawan island; Zamboanga Peninsula region: Zamboanga city and environs.

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Indonesia

Language NameTausug

User Population

12,000 in Indonesia (Wurm and Hattori 1981).

Location

North Kalimantan province: scattered coastal settlements; immigrants from Sulu Archipelago in the Philippines.

Alternate Names

Bahasa Sūg, Joloano Sulu, Jolohano, Moro Joloano, Sinug Tausug, Sooloo, Sulu, Suluk, Taosug, Tausog, Taw Sug

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Muslim.

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Malaysia

Language NameSuluk

User Population

150,000 in Malaysia (2000 SIL), increasing. No monolinguals (2015 N. Dino).

Location

Sabah state: Beluran, Kudat, Lahad Datu, Sandakan, Semporna, and Tawau districts’ coasts; Kota Kinabalu, Labuan, and Papar coasts.

Alternate Names

Bahasa Sūg, Joloano, Joloano Sulu, Jolohano, Pamung Sug, Sinug, Sooloo, Sug, Sulu, Taosug, Tausog, Tausug, Taw Sug, “Moro” (pej.)

Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Language Use

Home. Mixed use: Friends, Religion, Work, Education. Some young people, all adults. Positive attitudes. All also use Sabah Malay [msi]. Many also use Standard Malay [zsm]. Some also use English [eng]. Some also use Southern Sama [ssb]. A few also use Ida’an [dbj]. Used as L2 by Brunei [kxd], Ida’an [dbj], Mapun [sjm], Southern Sama [ssb].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 95%. Literacy rate in L2: 95% in Sabah Malay [msi], 30% in English [eng]. Agency: Pusaka.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. While some have lived in North Borneo for hundreds of years, many are recent immigrants from the southern Philippines seeking work and fleeing conflict. Muslim.

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Tausug

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A language of Philippines

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